Renewed focus sparks Adam Scott's bid for Open redemption

Adam Scott of Australia hits his tee shot on the eighth hole during Round Two of the 113th U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club on June 14, 2013 in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

Disappointing results in the wake of his first major triumph at the Masters have allowed Adam Scott to refocus on his game as he prepares to seek redemption at next month’s British Open.

Fuelled by a woeful 45th-place finish at the US Open two weeks ago, the first Australian to capture a green jacket at Augusta National yearns for a strong showing this week at the US PGA National, his only tuneup event for the Open.

“I’m looking to build a bit of momentum to go into the Open and build the confidence back to where I want it heading towards a major championship,” Scott said Wednesday.

“Especially after the US Open, I feel a result is needed, just some kind of result to keep the confidence high and move over to Europe feeling like I’m ready to compete.

“I want to contend. It has been since the Masters that I’ve not really been in contention, so getting those feelings would be nice again.”

Scott, who turns 33 two days before the British Open starts at Muirfield, threw away last year’s British Open title by making bogeys on the last four holes at Royal Lytham to hand Ernie Els his fourth major title.

While Scott set aside that epic stumble to win his first major crown nine months later, the memory has helped inspire him to regain the focus he enjoyed in practice before he achieved a lifelong dream by winning the Masters.

“It was a good feeling last week. I was on the range with a purpose and with a really clear thought again for the first time probably since winning the Masters,” Scott said.

“So I would like to put myself in good shape this week to then try to get to the Open and redeem myself maybe after last year.”

Far from being concerned about putting himself in the hunt for the Claret Jug once more, Scott cannot wait for another chance to be back in the fight.

“I’m really looking forward to going back and trying to get myself in a similar kind of situation, a chance to win the Open,” Scott said.

“The hardest thing is going to be curbing the expectations right from the start and just kind of building my way into that position.

“But it’s exciting. Every tournament, I feel, is an opportunity for me now, even more so after winning the Masters, to just build on this.”

Scott, third at the National in 2011 and 2012, followed his Masters title with a share of 19th at the Players Championship, a share of 13th at the Memorial and his US Open struggles, noticing his concentration growing worse.

“Focusing has been a little tougher, but I feel like now the US Open is behind and another major is gone, it’s time,” Scott said. “I really felt like last week, the focus went back on when I was on the range at home and it was really productive again. It felt like it did before winning the Masters.

“Somewhat understandably you can kind of get lost a little bit. You can just float along. I was playing OK but it just wasn’t quite the same as beforehand and now there’s a purpose again for sure.”

As disheartening as squandering the lead in the final holes of last year’s British Open was, squandering a solid start to become an also-ran at the US Open this year proved inspirational.

“I got home after the US Open and I was disappointed because after starting so great Thursday, I really just squandered away into the back of the pack and that was the first time I had done that in a major in a long time,” he said.

“I should have been better. I just wasn’t quite as sharp as I would have liked. But it’s a good time to get a result this week.”

Scott has a comfortable pairing this week with fellow Aussies Jason Day and Marc Leishman in the first and second rounds.

“It’s almost like going and having a game at home with your mates,” Scott said.