Adam Scott's capitulation at last year's Open is serving as motivation for the Australian as he prepares for the Masters.
Scott headed into the final four holes at the Open with a four-shot lead over Ernie Els, with the title most certainly his to lose. Unfortunately for Scott he did just that as he bogeyed all four holes and with Els birding the 18th, it was the South African who held the claret jug aloft.
The 32-year-old reveals that the harsh blow of failure was softened by his friendship with Els, who ended a 10-year major drought with the win.
"Probably the fact that a guy that I'm friends with and really like beat me helped me rather than someone that I'm not so friendly with," Scott is quoted as saying by the Augusta Chronicle.
"He just had really kind words to say after and we haven't really talked about it much. There's really not much to say. That's the way some golf tournaments go."
Scott tied for ninth in his first Masters in 2002 but wasn't able to add another top-20 finish until 2010 when he tied for 18th. He then shared second place behind Charl Schwartzel in 2011 before tying for eighth last year.
The world number seven admits that the Augusta course is one that suits his style, with his ability to belt the ball off the tee a real plus.
"The course sets up great for me with the added length now, and driving is my strong suit," he said. "But I think my short game has improved a lot the last couple of years and I believe that has been the difference to all those years before. 2010 was a bit of a breakthrough and I felt like I played really well around there and showed myself that I can have a good score and can compete. Then the next two years I kind of put everything together and was playing nicely."
Scott has finished in the top 25 in seven of his last eight majors and has placed in the top 10 on four of those occasions, a trend he is looking to build on.
"Hopefully I'm just starting that run," he said. "I feel like I've got a lot of good years left to play and this is just the start. I've got some of that experience now. I've been in contention and feel like my game's always at a point where I can get into contention every time I play."
