Adam Scott believes he&aposs finally ready to challenge for the world No.1 ranking after more than a decade as a professional. The 31-year-old has long been considered among the most talented golfers on the planet but has never been higher than No.3 on the pecking order. Scott has risen to No.8 in the world after an impressive season on the PGA Tour which yielded seven top-10 finishes in 18 starts including a win at the Bridgestone Invitational. And the 2009 Emirates Australian Open champion can see no reason why he can&apost climb to the top of the golfing tree next season. “I&aposm not that far away, I know Luke (Donald) has a pretty good lead on No.2 even at the moment but I&aposm sitting at No.8 and with consistent play over the next year I believe No.1 is certainly attainable,” Scott said at the Lakes Golf Club on Wednesday. “I think it&aposs the first time in my career as a professional that it&aposs been realistic for me.” “For the first seven, eight, nine years no one played at the level Tiger played at for that period of time to be able to be No.1.” “He&aposs slightly off but he&aposs on his way back it seems, so it&aposs a good time for me to take advantage of that and hopefully beat him to the punch.” A big reason for Scott&aposs return to golf&aposs upper echelon has been his switch to a broomstick putter. The Queenslander admits his improved putting has made golf fun again. “It&aposs been great going to the course this year knowing that I can fall back on my putting if the rest of my game is not up to scratch,” Scott said. “That hasn&apost been the case for a few years so going to the course feeling positive and happy every day, kind of knowing what the outcome can be, is a great feeling, hence I&aposve enjoyed playing this year a lot.” Scott enters Thursday&aposs opening round as joint favourite with Woods after finishing in a share of 11th at the HSBC Champions event in Shanghai last week. He concedes he battled his swing on the weekend after carding a final round 73 but is feeling good about his chances this week. “It&aposs not looking too bad actually, I played quite nicely in China except for Sunday which unfortunately wasn&apost my best day,” he said. “But first week back after five weeks off from the US Tour, I think it was a nice warm up for this week and the next few weeks here in Australia.” “This summer of golf in Australia is one not to be missed, especially by an Aussie. And I think as our visitors leave this year they&aposll realise it was one not to be missed either.” Scott will play alongside countryman John Senden and American Matt Kuchar in the opening two rounds of the Emirates Australian Open.
Author: Steve Orme, Sportal