Defending champion Adam Scott has warned his rivals he&aposs not yet ready to surrender the Stonehaven Cup ahead of this week&aposs Australian Open presented by Century 21 at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney. The Queenslander broke through for his first win on home soil as a professional with an emphatic five-shot triumph at NSW Golf Club last December. He went on to claim the Texas Open in May followed by this month&aposs Singapore Open, and is arguably the man to beat this week. “I don&apost really want to give up the trophy,” Scott declared on Tuesday. “I&aposve really enjoyed being the Aussie Open champ and I&aposd love to have the trophy at home for another 12 months.” “It&aposs been a great year for me. Being the Aussie Open champion has felt great.” “Coming off a win in Singapore is good for the confidence and trying to defend here this week, I am excited.” “To win back home in the Aussie Open was a huge boost of confidence and it carried me into this year.” “The Aussie Open&aposs a tournament I&aposve dreamt of winning since I was a little kid. It&aposs one of those events any Aussie golf treasures and wants to win.” “To have Greg (Norman) there for the presentation was special. He&aposs been my idol as a kid.” Understandably, the World No.20 is feeling good about all aspects of his game heading into the event. “I feel like I&aposve been moving forward all year,” he said. “My golf swing&aposs been great and I&aposve felt very comfortable.” “I&aposve changed a few things with my putting to try to improve and I think I&aposve improved.” “I just haven&apost got it to the level of the rest of my game.” While he hasn&apost played at the revamped Lakes layout for almost a decade, the 30-year-old has fond memories of the course after firing a stunning 10-under par round as an amateur. “My fond memory here is I got invited as an amateur to play in Greg Norman&aposs tournament in 2000,” he said. “I shot 10-under in the second round. It&aposs still one of the best rounds I&aposve ever played.” “That was the first big professional tournament I&aposd ever played in.” “It made me start to believe that I could be a tour pro.” “I got to play with Greg Norman in a practice round so the whole week was a thrill.” But Scott, who had his first look at the redesigned layout on Tuesday, is expecting a tough test over the four days. “With the front nine they have taken a lot of the trees out and it&aposs going to much more exposed to the elements,” he said. “If the wind and rain persist we&aposre going to have to play some pretty smart golf around here.” “The greens are quite undulating and tricky and it&aposs going to make it a challenge for all of us.”
Author: Steve Orme, Sportal