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Adam Scott’s 2016 has been the stuff of dreams.
Just don’t tell him he’s running hot; he won’t hear a word of it.
After statistically the leanest two-year period of his professional career, the affable Queenslander exploded back into the upper echelon of world golf in February with back-to-back wins in Florida – including the WGC Cadillac Championship at Doral – hot on the heels of a second place in Los Angeles.
But today at his pre-Masters press conference, the world No.7 and FedEx Cup points leader said that white-hot form counted for nothing at Augusta National.
“I don't know if I have really sustained that form. I didn't play as well at Bay Hill and the (WGC World) Match Play. I played OK,” Scott said.
“But there are a lot of factors to take into that. You have to adjust your preparation a little bit, certainly after finishing second-first-first, there's a little fatigue of three solid weeks in contention at big events (on) tough golf courses.
“It was a grind. I was pushing myself every day just to get up to that right intensity level to try and compete, again, against good fields on pretty tricky golf courses in the next two events.
“I didn't make it through to the weekend at the Match Play, but that was probably a bonus for me to just get a couple extra days rest, because it was a pretty full-on schedule.
“So I've just tried to pace myself and really temper my expectations a little bit or lower them coming here, because it's been a long time since Doral when I last won.
“I can't just expect to show up and fall into contention here this week. It's a major championship. It's a different examination altogether and it will require complete focus to get there on Sunday.”
Scott famously broke Australia’s storied Masters drought in dramatic style in 2013, just days after saying he felt “at home” on the famous layout as if it were his “home club”.
He has made no secret of the fact that victory completed his dream to be able to tee it up at Augusta National at any point for the remainder of his golfing life.
But in 11 majors since that magical moment, six more near misses and top-10 finishes have stoked that fire for that not to be his only sip from one of golf’s holy grails.
“It's hard for me to think that anything I achieve will be bigger than that moment in my career, but that doesn't mean I'm not striving to win other Masters Tournaments or any other big championship,” Scott said of his 2013 win.
“But I don't want it to be the one major that I win. I feel I've got the game to win other majors, and I'm looking to win my second major championship this week, and I'm driven towards doing that because I want to win a handful of majors in my career.”
With the trend in world golf leaning towards younger and younger champions with 20-somethings Day, Spieth and McIlroy winning five of the past six majors, the 35-year-old is aware the time to achieve his goals is of the essence.
“I need to get my skates on because it's getting tougher and tougher every year. But I'm in good shape,” he said.
“My window might not be closing, but it's not wide open, either.”