One the eve of another US Open Adam Scott has made big changes again, with a new caddie and a familiar coach.
Scott, who qualified last week for his 68th consecutive major, has arrived at Shinnecock Hills without David Clark, his looper for the past 18 months.
Instead, he is using a local caddie, Lenny Bummola, a 30-year bagman at the club who has escorted him around Shinnecock in practice rounds in the past.
Brad Malone, Scott’s brother-in-law, is back as his instructor after a brief hiatus in which Scott worked for a time with George Gankas, an American coach with a reputation for left-field thinking.
“Lenny has been here for so long,’’ said Scott. “He knows the course so well, and the greens. I really think it's a valuable move here this week for me stand there hit it where he says. He's going to be right more times than me."
Scott was philosophical about his parting with Clark. "There's never good timing for these kinds of things," he said. "The player-caddie relationship is an interesting one. I've had a few over the years. It's an intense work environment. It's a love-and-hate thing. It becomes a revolving door out there. Sometimes, I have to make selfish decisions."
The Open tees off late Thursday night eastern Australian time, with nine Australians in the field.