HUNTER Mahan has taken out the $A9.28 World Golf Championships  – Bridgestone Invitational with Adam Scott equal ninth and World No 1 Tiger Woods next to last.

Mahan was sinking 20 footers with ease whilst Woods couldn’t take a trick, finishing 30 strokes behind the leader and producing the worst performance of his professional career.

Mahan carded a bogey-free final round 64 to finish at 12-under 268, two strokes ahead of fellow American Ryan Palmer.

Woods had a final round 77 but amazingly retained his number one spot with the crown contender Phil Mickelson finishing with a 78.

All Mickelson had to do was finish fourth or better and he seemed well on track in the first three rounds but his tactic of spraying his tee shots all over Ohio just seemed to run out of puff on a course when trees come into play often even when you are on the fairway.

Woods said he would play this week in the US PGA Championship - the year’s final major –  but the continuing saga of his private life is obviously sucking his energy and once again proving just how much mental aspects affect on course golfing performance.

“It’s been a long year,” Woods kept repeating.

An eagle on the par four sixth helped Adam Scott to a final round 67 to put him on five under at 275.

His new cross handed putting method continues to bear dividends but if you don’t have to putt at all, alls the better.

It was a really nice shot, straight at it, pitched short right on line and went in,” he said of holing a 165 metre six iron on the sixth.

“It’s amazing I’ve holed so many (iron) shots this year, probably over 10.  I don’t know what it is but it would be nice to hole a couple next week.”

Jason Day (71), who is in doubt for the PGA Championship with a sinus infection, and Geoff Ogilvy (73) tied for 22nd on one-under, whilst Marcus Fraser was six-over and Stuart Appleby seven-over.

Sim third in Turning Stone, Bowdidith fourth in Wichita

Tour rookie Michael Sim fired a bogey free final-round 66 to claim a share of third place at the US PGA Turning Stone Championship today.

After missing the cut in four of his last five events, Sim finished two shots behind American winner Bill Lunde to rediscover the form that saw him finish tied second at the Farmers Insurance Open in January.

Popular Aussie Steven Bowditch has been regaining form of late on the Nationwide Tour and was in contention before finishing T4 at the Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open.

Venezuelan Jhonattan Vegas recorded his first win on the tour one shot ahead of American Roberto Castro, and three ahead of Bowditch.

Gavin Coles and Adam Bland were the only other Australians to make the cut, the pair finishing in 37th position.

AUSSIE golfer Adam Scott is sitting nicely sharing second place just two strokes behind leader Bubba Watson after the first round of the $A9.3 million World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational.

With his notoriously scratchy putting for once holding firm, Scott hit a four under par 66 in ideal conditions at Firestone to be tied for second with Phil Mickelson, Kenny Perry and Northern Ireland’s US Open winner Graeme McDowell.

The big Queenslander was 4 under after 10 holes and parred the remaining holes.

“I’m really pleased with today, no bogeys, because it’s certainly been a while for me since I had a round like that,” Scott said.

The reigning Australian Open champion switched to the cross-handed putting method the week after the US Open in June and managed to avoid any nasty three putts in Ohio.

“I’ve really struggled confidence-wise with the putting but the little bit of work I’ve done since the (British) Open has paid off I think,” he said.

Whilst Mickelson was one off the top of the leaderboard current World No I Tiger Woods was at the other end after a shocker – a 74, his highest score at Firestone in 45 rounds.

With Woods at T70 it could be Mickelson’s best chance yet to take the World Number 1 ranking.

“The only thing I did good is I kept my patience, grinded all day and that was the best I could have done,” Woods, who has won seven times at Firestone, said

“It’s frustrating, because I warmed up well, my practice sessions at home were good and today was not indicative of how I’ve been playing.”

Jason Day was next best placed Australian with a one under 69, whilst Geoff Ogilvy, who can’t seem to take a trick, hit a 71, Marcus Fraser had a 72 and Stuart Appleby languished on 74 – bitten by the Golfing gods after his historic final round 59 at last week’s Greenbrier Classic.

Ogilvy was looking at his score card and wondering why the numbers weren’t better.

“Most parts of my game seem pretty good but I don’t seem to have very good scores,” he said. “It seems (my game) is better than my scores but you don’t want to hear that.”

Robert Allenby missed the tournament due to a fishing accident in the Bahamas. I wish I could say that.

The event is being telecast free to air on Ten’s ONE HD

Live Leaderboard

GREG Norman, Adam Scott and Geoff Ogilvy have just been announced as confirmed starters for the 2010 Australian Open.

The famous trio are the first big name players to confirm their participation in the prestigious tournament which will be played at The Lakes in Sydney from December 2 to 5.

For the second successive year the tournament will form the penultimate leg on the OneAsia Tour and offer a purse of US$1.3 million.

Norman has been in Australia in recent days looking after his various interests and here’s hoping there will be no repeat of the shoulder injury that kept him out of the event last year.

Scott is the defending champion and is back in form – touch wood – after winning the Valero Texas Open on the US PGA Tour a couple of weeks back.

Ogilvy didn’t fare too well at the Open last year at the stunning NSW Golf Club but has often expressed his strong desire to win the event.

Scott won his first Australian title claiming the Australian Open by five shots over compatriot Stuart Appleby after a tense final round.

Winning the 2009 Australian Open was one of the great highlights of my career,” Scott said today.

“Having dreamed of that moment since I was a kid it was a wonderful feeling to have Greg Norman hand me the trophy and to see my name next to the greats in golf is something to cherish.
“I’m sure this year’s Open at The Lakes will be another great event and I will be hoping to have the engraver add my name again to the Stonehaven Cup!”.

Scott’s victory in Texas was his seventh on the PGA Tour and came on a course designed by his hero Norman.

Ogilvy, the 2006 US Open champion, is still in search of his first Australian Open and is particularly looking forward to playing The Lakes course.

“As always I am looking forward to our year ending events in Australia,” he said.

“Returning to Sydney for the Australian Open at The Lakes will have special significance for me. The golf course was remodelled by Mike Clayton with whom I am forming a new golf course design company, Ogilvy Clayton Golf Design. Appreciating Mike’s design skills, I am sure the new layout will provide a fitting test for our national Open.”

Two-time Major winner Norman last lifted the Stonehaven Cup in 1996. Shoulder surgery meant he was unable to compete last year but he is excited about the prospect of returning this December.

“I look forward to my return to Sydney and my participation in the 2010 Australian Open at The Lakes. Both The Lakes as a venue and the Australian Open as a tournament are special to me in that they are both an integral part of my career,” the 55-year-old said.

Other star players will be confirmed over the coming months including a wealth of talent from OneAsia which this year boasts 11 events, offering a total of over US$12 million in prize money.

NSW Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay said tens of thousands of spectators were expected to attend the 2010 Australian Open.

“More than 30,000 visitors came for the Australian Open Golf last year, including significant numbers from overseas and interstate.

“Global golf stars like Greg Norman, defending champion Adam Scott and 2006 US Open Champion Geoff Ogilvy will guarantee another great crowd in 2010.”

The Australian Open was first played in 1904 and has been won by the biggest names in the game, including Gary Player with a record seven wins and Jack Nicklaus with six.

Stephen Pitt, Golf Australia CEO, suggests the new Lakes Golf Course design will be a great test for our national Open.

“The Australian Open is one of the most prestigious titles in world golf and fittingly, Norman, Ogilvy and Scott will lead another very strong field. The course at The Lakes will be a great and unique challenge for the players with some demanding holes mixed with some holes that offer scoring opportunities.”

ADAM SCOTT would no doubt jump at the offer of only missing one short putt in a US PGA tournament week but maybe not the final hole when there are others snapping at your lead.

The hugely talented Australian has just done that at the Texas Open but his final hole bogey hasn’t stopped his first win on the US tour for two years.

His sizzling final round 67 at the San Antonio TPC has seen him finish at 14 under 274, one stroke ahead of Swede Fredrik Jacobson and two ahead of a very welcome comeback by fellow Aussie Aaron Baddeley.

Two years ago when Scott won the Byron Nelson Championship he was riding high at World No 3.

He has since slipped 40 places, you would have to say largely on the back of his flaky ability with the short putting.

Even last year on his way to winning the 2009 Australian Open in Sydney there were some missed short attempts in the final round that had his fans twitching nervously.

In fact, it was only after another poor putting performance that saw Scott miss the cut in Charlotte two weeks ago that he decided on a late entry in Texas.

Scott has credited an on the fly putting lesson from former pro Dave Stockton for turning his fortunes around.

“I was really struggling with my putting and that was bleeding into the rest of the game,” Scott said after what was his 16th professional victory and seventh on the US PGA Tour.
“It was a timely meeting with Stockton a couple of weeks ago. He said he could fix me in a couple of minutes and he was right.”
Scott putted solidly at the Players Championship last week and then put the whole package together in Texas on a marathon 36-hole Sunday after a rain affected tournament.

Scott admitted the missed putt on the 18th was “a bit of a disaster” but was more than happy with the rest of the day.
“It wasn’t the greatest finish but I played really well considering I was one under after three holes this morning.
“It’s really good with the putter the last two weeks. It’s nice to see putts going in and it makes golf a lot more fun.
“When you get hot, sometimes its good to play 36 (holes). You want to keep going and going. I got in the rhythm out there and they all started going in.”
Scott’s final hole miss turned out not to matter when Jacobson subsequently missed a birdie putt from five metres.

It was also a welcome return to form for Baddeley, who has been talking up his prospects since reuniting with boyhood coach Dale Lynch more than a month ago.

Baddeley recovered from an opening round 75, coming home with rounds of 66, 67 and 68. He tied for third with American Jimmy Walker and the resurgent Ernie Els.
Scott and Baddeley, both 29, have both threatened to do big things in the golfing world since bursting onto the professional scene over a decade ago.

Whilst it has often been the putting with Scott, Baddeley has struggled at times with the long game.

With three majors coming up between June and August in the northern summer, let’s hope it is not too late for either to make a big splash.

GEOFF OGILVY, Adam Scott, Aaron Baddeley, John Senden and Greg Chalmers have all confirmed they will be joining Greg Norman when the Australian Open takes to the cliffs of La Perouse in December.

It should be a magnificent tournament with Ogilvy, current world number eight, heading the charge for the Stonehaven Cup.

Former world number three Scott could also play a big role.

His form has been improving of late and he will be gunning to do well after missing the Open last year due to a beach incident knee injury.

The Shark has been thereabout of late and we at least know he has been getting some consistent big tournament conditioning with three back to back appearances at the British Open, Senior British Open and US Senior Open.

John Senden (2006 Winner) and Greg Chalmers have also recently shown their class, taking the fight up to Tiger Woods as both finished in a tie for second place at the Buick Open at the weekend.

Ogilvy is keenly chasing his first Open title, but broke through to claim his maiden win on home soil at the Australian PGA Championship last year.

”I am looking forward to returning to Sydney in my quest to win the Australian Open,” he said from the US.

“It’s great to have Greg (Norman) playing again as he adds so much to the championship. The NSW Golf Club will certainly test the players with the strong ocean breezes.”

Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt says there are now 11 Australians in the world’s Top 100 and this will give the 2009 Australian Open incredible depth and added excitement for the fans.

Pitt said it again proved that the hottest talents in Australian golf wanted to compete at their national open.

“We are committed to having our best Australian golfers play at New South Wales Golf Club on the stunning cliffs at La Perouse.”

The Open will be held at the NSW Golf Club from December 3-6.

Australians in World Top 100 as at Tuesday 4 August, 2009:

1. Geoff Ogilvy 8
2. Robert Allenby 42
3. Adam Scott 44
4. Matthew Goggin 49
5. Brendan Jones 61
6. Aaron Baddeley 75
7. Michael Sim 81
8. Rod Pampling 83
9. John Senden 89
10. Stuart Appleby 90
11. Richard Green 95

US PGA TOUR: SONY OPEN IN HAWAII, WAIALAE COUNTRY CLUB, HONOLULU, HAWAII

A blistering final round six under 64 has seen Australian Adam Scott finish just two shots off a win at the Sony Open in Hawaii –the first full field event on the 2009 US PGA Tour calendar.  

 Starting the day three shots off the lead and tied tenth, the 28 year old Aussie carded seven birdies in his round to equal the best round of the day and soar into contention.
He held the lead briefly after overnight leader Zach Johnson stumbled early on, but the American regrouped with four birdies on the back nine to take the title. Johnson secured his victory by two shots over Scott and American David Toms.

Charles Howell III was a further stroke behind at 12-under, with Kevin Na and Brian Gay one shot back in a tie for fifth.

 For Scott, who is recovering from a knee injury that forced a six week break, the start to the year will brim him with confidence. He finished T18 at his first outing, the Mercedes Benz Championship last week and secured his best result since winning the EDS Byron Nelson Championship last April.

 “Today was really good for me,” said Scott.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been in the hunt in anything.
“It was nice to get on the back nine and have a chance, and get the competitive nerves going again. I enjoyed the challenge.
“I wish I could have made the putt on 17 to have a bit of a chance on the last, but all in all, I’m pretty happy with how my game is shaping up.”

 Scott will now head to Qatar where he will look to claim his third straight Qatar Masters. He will then return home to Australia for a month for more rehabilitation on his knee which still needs to be iced daily and requires more treatment.

In more good news for the Aussies, rookie Marc Leishman carded a five-under-par 65 to grab a share of 12th spot in his first PGA Tour event.
Starting the day in a tie for second place, Nathan Green struggled with four bogeys early on, but closed with a birdie to also finish in 12th place.
Geoff Ogilvy never recovered from a disastrous start that saw him drop five shots through seven holes to finish in a tie for 32nd at five-under overall.

EUROPEAN TOUR: THE ABU DHABI GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP, ABU DHABI GOLF CLUB, ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Robert Allenby has finished the best of the Australasians at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship tying for 15^th place on 13 under, eight shots behind winner Paul Casey of England.

Allenby, a US TOUR regular and playing in his first event for the 2009 season shot rounds of 71, 68, 69 & 67 to finish one shot ahead of compatriot Brett Rumford on 12 under while halfway leader Richard Green was a further stroke back in a tie for 26th.
For Casey, it was a case of surviving a late scare to secure his first title in two years. Coasting to victory, or so it seemed, when he led by six with only eight holes to play, he then bogeyed three of the next four holes. The 31 year old led by six shots at the turn but problems with his putter saw his lead desert him as up ahead South African Louis Oosthuizen posted an eight-under-par 64 and suddenly the gap was only one.

However, the 31-year-old Ryder Cup star, whose last win came in the same event at the start of 2007, parred the closing stretch for a 70 and a 21-under total of 267 to take the title by one shot from Louis Oosthuizen and defending champion Martin Kaymer. It was Casey’s second Abu Dhabi win in three years.

New Zealand amateur Danny Lee was the next best of the Australasians posting rounds of 68, 70, 73, 68 to finish on nine-under-par ahead of fellow countryman and 2008 Australasian Tour Order of Merit Champion Mark Brown two shots further back.

Rod Pampling, Scott Strange and Aaron Baddeley finished well done the leaderboard in 37th, 50th and 62nd respectively.

ASIAN TOUR: 2009 ASIAN TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL, ST ANDREWS 2000 GC & RAYONG GREEN VALLEY CC, THAILAND

12 Australasians have successfully qualified through final stage of Asian Tour School and have earned their cards for the 2009 season.

Led by South Australian Peter Cooke and Victorian Matthew Griffin who finished best of the contingent from Down Under in a tie for ninth place, 11 Aussies and New Zealander Mark Purser braved five rounds over five days at the St Andrews 2000 and Rayong Green Valley courses.

Also finishing in the Top 40 and ties were: Michael Light (T12), Kim Do.H (T15), Tim Stewart (T17), Mark Purser (T19), Chris Gaunt (T19), Adam Le Vesconte (T26), Jason Norris (T26), Christopher Campbell (T30), Adam Groom (T33) and Rohan Blizard (T33).

Victorian Brad Lamb narrowly missed the cut when he finished in a tie for 41^st spot.

Overall, Australia had the biggest representation in the 2009 Qualifying School with 83 players.

Japan’s Daisuke Maruyama triumphed in a play-off with Mohammad Siddikur and Rory Hie becoming the first Bangladeshi and Indonesian players respectively to earn full playing rights.

AUSTRALASIAN RESULTS:

US PGA TOUR: SONY OPEN

WINNER: ZACH JOHNSON (USA)

T2 Adam Scott (-13), T12 Marc Leishman (-7), Nathan Green (-7), T32 Geoff Ogilvy (-5), T51 Tim Wilkinson (-2), T65 Jarrod Lyle (+2). 

MC: John Senden, Aron Price, Peter Lonard, Greg Chalmers, James Nitties.

EUROPEAN TOUR: THE ABU DHABI GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

WINNER: PAUL CASEY (ENGLAND) -21

T15 Robert Allenby (-13), T20 Brett Rumford (-12), T26 Richard Green (-11), T35 Danny Lee am NZL ( -9), T37 Rod Pampling (-8), T42 Mark Brown NZL (-7), T50 Scott Strange (-5), T62 Aaron Baddeley (-2)

MC: Peter O’Malley,

ASIAN TOUR: 2009 ASIAN TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL FINAL STAGE

1^ST: DAISUKE MARUYAMA (JAPAN)

T9, 359, Peter COOKE, Australia, 73, 70, 72, 75, 69

T9, 359, Matthew GRIFFIN, Australia, 70, 72, 72, 74, 71

T12, 360, Michael LIGHT, Australia, 70, 74, 75, 75, 66

T15, 361, KIM Do.H, Australia, 76, 72, 74, 70, 69

T17, 362, Tim STEWART, Australia, 74, 70, 77, 74, 67

T19, 363, Mark PURSER, New Zealand, 74, 73, 70, 75, 71

T19, 363, Chris GAUNT, Australia, 72, 73, 71, 75, 72

T26, 364, Adam Le VESCONTE, Australia, 75, 71, 72, 79, 67

T26, 364, Jason NORRIS, Australia, 72, 68, 75, 76, 73

T30, 365, Christopher CAMPBELL, Australia, 71, 77, 74, 74, 69

T33, 366, Adam GROOM, Australia, 73, 74, 75, 72, 72

T33, 366, Rohan BLIZARD, Australia, 71, 77, 74, 71, 73

THE WEEK AHEAD:

US PGA TOUR: The 50th Bob Hope Classic hosted by Arnold Palmer at PGA West (Palmer Course), La Quinta, California, PGA West (Nicklaus Course), La Quinta, California, Bermuda Dunes CC, Bermuda Dunes, California, Silver Rock, La Quinta, California
EUROPEAN TOUR: Commercialbank Qatar Masters Presented by Dolphin Energy, Doha GC, Doha, Qatar

CHAMPIONS TOUR: Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, Hualalai Golf Course, Ka’upulehu-Kona, Hawaii

(Original material courtesy PGA Australia)

GOSSIPS might only see actress Kate Hudson pictured here with Adam Scott on the beach in Maui.

We just note Scott seems to have learned his lesson after a beach incident put him out of action in Australia and he is now wearing a knee brace in the surf.

Scott said recently that he and Hudson were “just friends” but it was noted they were getting very cuddly on their beach towels.

Scott was in Hawaii competing in the Mercedes-Benz Championship and the Sony Open.

In December Scott withdrew from the Australian PGA Championship and subsequently the Australian Open after injuring his right kneecap running out of the surf at Coolum Beach in Queensland.

Lets hope his cautious state and relaxed attitude see him achieve big things in 2009.

Whatever Hudson was whispering in his ear on their towels later seems to have done wonders for his performance at the Sony Open.

Scott’s blistering final round in Hawaii

Round One

Australian golfers Geoff Ogilvy and Stuart Appleby are just one behind the leaders after the first round of the US Open Golf at Torrey Pines in southern California.

Ogilvy and Appleby were two under par at 69 behind the joint leaders, little known Americans Kevin Streelman and Justin Hicks.

Ogilvy, the 2006 champion, recovered from two bogeys in his opening three holes, to finish with five birdies.

Robert Allenby, who finished just one stroke further back, was earlier threatening the leaders and at one stage had five birdies in six holes.

It was also good to see two time champion Ernie Els back in contention. He finished one under along with Allenby, Vijay Singh and Crazy Phil Mickelson, who left his driver at home in favour of a three wood and an extra wedge.

World Number 3 Adam Scott was the next best Australian at two over, with Aaron Baddeley and Rod Pampling a further shot back at three-over.

The much hyped teaming of Tiger Woods-Crazy Phil-Adam Scott attracted huge galleries in the sell-out crowd (and the sort of blanket US network hyperventilating we predicted below).

The Woods-Crazy Phil-Scott show will be much better for free to air Australian television audiences Saturday morning, with the threesome scheduled to tee off 36 minutes after the Channel 10 coverage begins at 6am (EST).

That will be just after lunch San Diego time and the beverage fuelled afternoon crowd might not be as polite and cultured as they were for the group’s morning tee off today (Fri).

Galleries up to five deep surrounded every hole, producing a repeated chorus of “Lets go, Tiger” and “C’mon Phil.”

 ”I thought it was great,” Mickelson, who lives nearby, said of his home town crowd. “There were not any derogatory remarks. Whether they pulled for any of the three of us, everybody was really cool today. I was very proud to be from here.”

Mickelson acknowledged that there was not as much banter between the three competitors.

“I know it’s a big pairing,” Adam Scott admitted after the round. “There’s a lot of hoopla about it. But … I played with Phil a lot in majors. It seems like I get drawn with him a lot. But I enjoy playing with Tiger, as well. I find it is a lot easier to focus, because I think I’ve got to be a lot more disciplined.”

Scott - who corrected that it was a bone in his hand broken in a car door recently, not his little finger - was overall happy with his game. He just wanted to sink a few more putts.

That little finger, undamaged as it was, had a fair bit of media attention, but nothing like Tiger Wood’s knee.

Coming back after surgery, Woods hit his first competition shot - and his first shot of the US Open - into the rough, leading to a double-bogey first hole. He had another double bogey on the back nine and three putted the par five final hole to finish one over at 72.

“To make two double-bogeys and a three-putt and be only four back, that’s a great position to be in,” Woods said. “Because I know I can clean that up tomorrow.”

US Open first round scores:
-3: Justin Hicks 68, Kevin Streelman 68
-2: Stuart Appelby (Australia) 69, Eric Axley 69, Rocco Mediate 69, Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 69
-1: Robert Allenby (Australia) 70, Ernie Els 70, Ricki Fowler 70, Robert Karlsson 70, Lee Westwood
E: Patrick Sheehan 71, Joe Ogilvie 71, Phil Mickelson 71, Carl Pettersson 71, Andres Romero 71, Vijay Singh 71, Luke Donald 71

Others:
+2: Adam Scott (Australia) 73
+3: Rod Pampling (Australia) 74, Aaron Baddeley (Australia) 74
+4: Craig Parry (Australia) 75, Jarrod Lyle (Australia) 75
+6: Mathew Goggin (Australia) 77
+7: Michael Campbell (New Zealand) 78

Preview

Our prediction for the US Open is that the American television networks will be in an ecstatic frenzy of self pleasuring over the opportunity of having Tiger Woods and Crazy Phil Mickelson paired together for the two opening rounds.

Even some US commentators are suggesting there has already been too much hype about the coupling, especially considering Tiger’s dodgy knee and Crazy Phil’s form at the event, even though it is virtually a home town course for him.

Still, it will be fun to watch and the other good thing about the pairing is that it is actually a threesome, with World No 3 Aussie golfer Adam Scott intruding on the party.

Even the US networks won’t be able to ignore Scott completely in their frenzied focus on the Woods-Mickelson juggernaut, and we should at least get some passing glimpses of Adam - at least by accident.

Scott, nursing a broken right pinkie finger, (good opportunity for a non Woods-Mickelson close-up there) is one of nine Australian golfers competing at this year’s Open, to take place at Torrey Pines, San Diego, starting early Friday morning (EST).

It is a measure of the health of Australian golf that as a nation it has the third most starters behind the US (too many to count) and the UK (11 starters). Sweden has eight, Canada seven and South Africa six.

As well as Scott - still waiting to win his first major but at 27 has plenty of time - a number of Aussies have been mentioned as possible winners.

(And as for the experts’ picks, as one US golf writer suggested, hands up all those who predicted Argentinean Angel Cabrera would win the 2007 US Open at Oakmont, Aussie Geoff Ogilvy at Winged Foot in ‘06 or Kiwi Michael Campbell at Pinehurst in ‘05?)

As a former champion with a long game that is said will suit the punishing Torrey Pines south course, Ogilvy has been pushed as a contender.

Then there is Aaron Baddeley, who don’t forget was leading into the final round last year before imploding on the first few holes. He learnt a lot from that experience and is back with renewed confidence.

“I feel like my game is at that level,” Baddeley said this week.

“If I can play my game I definitely have a chance to win. You have to drive it straight. I can do that. I know I can putt well,” he said.

“Last year it was one of the hardest, if not the hardest, golf course in America. I was leading after 54 holes.”

Robert Allenby is another entering the tournament in a positive frame of mind after finishing equal second behind American Justin Leonard at the Stanford St Jude Championship.

Tasmanian Matthew Goggin is a 300/1 longshot, despite his recent hot form, and isn’t phased by the fact that at 6988m, Torrey Pines will be the longest ever US Open course by more than 300m. Goggin was surprised during his first practice round to encounter playable rough and soft greens.

“They’re obviously trying not to have the rough unplayable, to try to tempt you to go for the greens if you miss fairways,” Goggin said.

“I wouldn’t say this is the toughest course in America, but I guess we’ll find out. As a par 71, it’s going to be long and demanding but Oakmont (site of last year’s Open), I’ve never seen a course that hard.”

The other Australian entrants are Stuart Appleby, Jarrod Lyle, Rod Pampling and Craig Parry.

At 42, “Popeye” Parry is an ASG favourite. We are not saying he is going to win, but he does boast the best ever US Open round of any of the Australians competing this year - a 66 at Baltusrol in 1993. And, as well as bolting to win the Australian Open last year, he does have the added advantage of definitely not having been picked by any of the US pundits this week.

Note: Australian free to air television coverage of the US Open begins on Friday 6am - Midday (EST) on Channel Ten. By our (suspect) international time conversion calculations, that’s about five hours after the Woods-Crazy Phil-Adam Scott tee off.

We predict you can catch them teeing off for the second round at 6.36am on 10 on Saturday morning. Daily Foxtel coverage begins at Midday.

WHO says Adam Scott can’t putt - he has just holed a 50 footer on the third playoff hole to win the Byron Nelson Championship US PGA Tour event in Texas.

Scott was questioned about his putting before leaving for the US to contest the Masters and join the tour and said he didn’t believe it was a nemesis.

The Queensland golfer said he had been using the one putter for two years and didn’t feel a need to find a new stroke.

“Unlike a lot of guys, I only have six putters in my collection,” he reportedly told an interviewer from Pacific Golfer.

Scott rejected suggestions from some quarters that his putting was the reason he had never won a Major, pointing out he finished 30th in the putting on the US Tour last year.

“I guess it’s because I have had a couple of patches in my career when I have putted poorly,” he said. ‘But then I don’t think that putting poorly got me to number three in the world either.”

Coming into the final round of the $6.83 million Byron Nelson in Dallas, Scott had a three stroke lead but struggled early and frittered it away.

He faced defeat when he trailed American Ryan Moore with one hole left in regulation, but made a three metre birdie putt to force a play off.

Failing take advantage in the first two playoff holes, Scott then faced his monster put. Reportedly, it was almost 16 metres, up over a ridge and downhill to the hole with a couple of metres of break on the way.

When the ball dropped into the back of the cup, Scott had secured his 14th professional victory and sixth on the US PGA Tour, though not quite the way he had planned to finish.

“I dug it out of nowhere,” he said of the putt. “Obviously, I found my range on the third play-off hole. I was hitting it too close on the other ones, so I got away with one, I think, today.”

That particular putter, you would think, is staying in the collection.