Inconsistency leaves Rory feeling blue

Rory McIlroy is driving as well as ever but his putting let him down on Thursday when he ended the first round of the Australian Open seven shots behind leader Adam Scott after shooting a three-under-par 69.

The world No 6's problems since changing his equipment this year have been well documented and he arrived at the Royal Sydney Golf Club this week still searching for his first title of 2013.

After Scott's brilliant round, McIlroy's chances of success in Australia already appear remote and the Northern Irishman was left ruing four missed short putts that could have made a huge difference to his score.

"Missed three or four short ones out there," he told reporters after signing for his card.

"Wasteful, yeah. I felt it could have been a lot lower. Off the tee, I'm driving the ball the best I ever have, it's just a matter of being more efficient and scoring better.

"That's really it. I only played the par-fives at one-under and the way I'm driving it, I should be playing those at four-under."

A missed birdie putt at the seventh and three-putt from the edge of the green at the 16th were the most obvious wasted opportunities, while a pair of bogeys shortly after the turn halted his momentum after a solid front nine.

INCREDIBLE YEAR

"I got the most out of it, especially after bogeys on 10 and 11, so to get in the 60s was decent," he added.

"It was nice to finish with a birdie at the last, makes up a little bit for not making birdie at 16."

McIlroy felt conditions may have been a little trickier for the late starters after US Masters champion Scott had posted his record-breaking 10-under-par 62 in the morning.

"The wind might have got up for us a little bit this afternoon but still 62 on that course is great going," McIlroy added.

"When I was sitting over breakfast, I saw he'd birdied the first six holes and thought, 'oh nice'."

Scott has had an incredible year, following up his Augusta triumph with a win at the Barclays and claiming the Australian PGA and Masters title before helping Jason Day win the World Cup of Golf for his country last weekend.

For McIlroy, it was a reminder of his 2012 season when he became world No 1 and won the US PGA and a string of other tournaments.

"He's doing what I did last year and (world No 3 Henrik) Stenson's doing the same thing," the 24-year-old said.

"I've been in that position before, I know what it's like. That's what I'm trying to get back to."

LEADING SCORES

62 - Adam Scott (AUS) (new course record)

65 - Ryan Yip (CAN), John Young Kim, (USA)

66 - David McKenzie (AUS)

67 - Jason Norris (AUS), Aaron Bradley (AUS), Jason Scrivener (AUS), Alistair Presnell (AUS)

68 - Scott Laycock (AUS), Steven Bowditch (AUS), Brady Watt (AUS), Anthony Brown (AUS), Matthew Jones (AUS), Steven Jones (AUS), Max McCardle (AUS)

69 - Nathan Holman (AUS), Rory McIlroy (NIR), Tom Bond (AUS), Adam Bland (AUS), Kalem Richardson (AUS), Richard Green (AUS), Josh Younger (AUS)

SELECTED OTHERS:

70 - Jason Day (AUS)

Read More

No comments

Scott fires course record at Aus Open

Adam Scott shot a course record 10-under-par 62 in the first round of the Australian Open at Royal Sydney on Thursday but the world No 2 was left ruing a mid-round dip that prevented him from posting an even lower score.

Scott has been on fire on a valedictory tour of his homeland over the last few weeks, winning both the Australian PGA and Masters, and helping his country to hoist the World Cup of Golf in Melbourne last weekend.

The 33-year-old showed no sign of slowing down as he started his fourth event at the Royal Sydney Golf Course on Thursday, grabbing birdies on his first six holes, parring the middle eight and then picking up four shots on his final four holes.

The first streak of birdies had the US Masters champion contemplating the possibility that he might be about to join an even more select group of golfers, those who have shot rounds of 59 in professional tournaments.

"I wasn't thinking about it hard but I knew it was a possibility. Having birdied the six holes I birdied, I felt like all the opportunities were still to come," he said.

"So if I kept it going, and I had a good run around the turn, I felt it was on for sure."

It was not to be, though, and from his seventh hole - the 16th - Scott felt his swing desert him and was soon battling his frustration at being unable to continue his charge.

"It was a beautiful day for golf, I came out hitting great shots and didn't have much work to do to clean them up in the first five holes and had a nice putt on my sixth hole and I was really rolling at that stage," he said.

MOOD SWINGS

"But I think I've gone through a rollercoaster of emotion out there today from cruising after six holes to having to work pretty hard.

"Nothing much was going my way, I missed a green, felt like my swing was leaving me again, it's just amazing how in 18 holes you can do a 360 degrees of emotion and mood swings and everything."

Despite his success of the last few weeks, perfectionist Scott said he felt his swing had not been quite "in the slot" and revealed he had discussed his "sloppy" posture on the phone with his coach Brad Malone.

"It's a bit hard work for me at the moment," he said. "I still hit some great shots but a few average ones as well. But I got away with the bad ones today with some good saves."

It was all relative of course, and he continued to nail the four to five foot putts that punctuated his round before catching fire again at the sixth hole, his 15th.

Scott said the strong finish was essential to avoid wasting the opportunity his brilliant start had opened up, but part of him was still left contemplating how low he might have gone.

"I'm thinking about what today could have been, if I was really striking it and lost opportunities," he said.

Scott nevertheless said it had been one of the "best rounds" of his career, along with the round of 61 he hit to win the Qatar Masters in 2008 and a 62 he shot at the Memorial at Muirfield Village in 2007.

Thursday's round not only gave him a healthy early lead but also beat the course record of 65 held since the 2008 Australian Open by Stephen Dartnall, Matt Goggins, Ewan Porter, Chris Gaunt and Jason Norris.

Read More

No comments

McIlroy sympathises with Trott

Rory McIlroy believes more players will suffer from stress-related conditions in future as the pressure in top-level sport continues to increase.

England cricketer Trott earlier this week left the country's squad currently on Tour in Australia in a bid to facilitate his recovery from a stress-related illness, and McIlroy, having struggled for form throughout 2013, can relate to the South African-born player's plight.

"As sport becomes so big it's becoming more common that these sorts of stress-related illnesses are happening," McIlroy told the BBC on Wednesday.

"It's sad to see something like that happen and it just shows what a mental toll sport can take on you sometimes.

"Hopefully he gets home and spends some time with his family and recovers and can come back."

Following his winless run in 2013, McIlroy has slipped down to number six in the latest world rankings, having started the year as the world's top ranked player.

His best finish this year was a second place at the Texas Open, and only a top 10 finish at the US PGA Championship added some gloss to an otherwise disappointing year.

"It's been a long year, I guess mentally more than physically," the 24-year-old continued.

"Physically, golf doesn't take that much out of you but mentally it's quite draining, especially this year for me.

"It's not just the golf and being frustrated with my game, but having to answer the questions and having to come up with reasons why I'm not playing well and all that stuff."

Read More

No comments

Scott cards course record

Adam Scott carded a 10-under par 62 to claim a three-shot lead after the first round of the Australian Open on Thursday.

The Masters champion birdied the first six holes of his round en route to a new course record, smashing the previous record at Royal Sydney that was shared by Chris Gaunt, Matt Goggin, Stephen Dartnall, Ewan Porter and Jason Norris, by three shots.

After the opening six birdies, Scott scored pars on the next eight, before closing with four more successive birdies.

The round of 62 handed Scott and excellent opportunity to win all three majors on the Australian Tour in the same year, a feat only managed previously by Robert Allenby in 2005. The 33-year-old has already won the Australian Masters and PGA Championship this year.

"The longest putt I had on those opening birdies was about five feet," Scott said.

"I hit a lot of quality shots right out of the blocks this morning.

"I'm off to a good start, but a lot of work to do yet.

It's been a long time since I shot a low round like this. It's a tough setup but it was a perfect morning for it."

Three shots behind Scott after a round of 65 is unheralded Canadian player Ryan Yip, with Australia's David McKenzie another stroke further back on six-under after his round of 66.

Aaron Baddeley carded a 67 and is in a tie for fourth place alongside two more Australians, Jason Norris and Jason Scrivener, while a group of six players are tied on four-under.

Former world number one Rory McIlroy, still looking for his first win of 2013, had to settle for a three-under par 69.

Read More

No comments

Rory McIlroy hoping to use Australian Open to turn horror year around

RORY McIlroy is hoping to use success in the hotly-contested Australian Open as his springboard out of a horror year and back into the winners' circle in 2014.

Hefty appearance fees have often been the motivation for international stars to cut into holidays and fly down for the Australian summer, but after a winless 2013, McIlroy's drive in Sydney is far more about banking confidence than cash.

The former world no.1 has failed to win a tournament this year after a season plagued with swing problems, an infamous switch to Nike clubs and distracting legal battles swirling around in his business affairs.

But after a recent run of form in the last month, McIlroy said yesterday he'd finally shaken his confidence issues and will look to use an Australian Open featuring elite stars like Adam Scott and Jason Day to display world-beating form again.

"I feel like my game is in good shape. It's probably the best it's been all year, which is nice," McIlroy said.

"I've said for the last couple of months I just wanted to try and finish this season strongly and get some momentum to go in 2014. This would be the perfect place to get that first win of the year and give me a sort of springboard into the next season.

"It would be huge to come to Australia and beat guys of that calibre, especially when they're playing so well. "Adam's been on a great run of form, Jason seems to be playing very well with a victory last week.

"You're going to have to play very well to win or at least get yourself in a position to win, and having guys like that in the field will obviously make it even more special if you do end up lifting the trophy."

McIlroy's sudden fall off the perch has been the subject of talk in golf locker rooms worldwide and even Scott admitted he was surprised the 24-year-old hadn't picked up a title.

"He had such a great year last year, I would have thought he would have won this year but it's just like we said, the game turns around so quick and you're hot and you're cold, and he'll be hot again in no time, that's for sure," Scott said.

"It's surprising, but the year's not over for Rory. He could get two wins before his year's over."

The affable Irishman played to the Australian audience yesterday by aligning with the home team in the Ashes - "anyone but England isn't it?" - but said he wasn't concerned about deflating the party atmosphere around Scott's triple-crown pursuit.

"He's won enough this year," McIlroy joked.

"I'd love to be in the mix on Sunday and at least give myself a chance to take it away from him I guess. He's playing very well. He won the PGA and the Aussie Masters down here and played very well last week at the World Cup so he's a man in form."

Read More

No comments

Andre and Zac Stolz set to make history when they tee-off in Australian Open

PARENTS make sacrifices for their kids and Andre Stolz can still remember the club that copped it for his son Zac.

Though his baby boy was only just up on unsteady feet, Stolz took a hacksaw to the graphite shaft of Ping 7-iron and slipped it into Zac's tiny hands.

"Apparently they were worth about $500 a club," Stolz laughs. "I can still remember that club. I cut it down. It went from grip to the head.

"He wouldn't remember but he's seen video of him wobbling around, whacking balls around the backyard."

Eighteen years on, with both Zac and his golf clubs are now fully grown, the sacrifices will pay dividends when the teenager and his Dad make history in the opening round of the Australian Open at Royal Sydney.

Andre and Zac will become only the second father and son to play together in the tournament after Stolz junior won a spot in qualifying on Monday.

Given the genes - and a childhood on the golf circuit - it's not a huge surprise. Andre Stolz is a 25-year tour professional who has played on the PGA Tour, and mum Cathy is a golf pro as well.

"He's beaten me a few times already so its nothing new if it happens again this week," Stolz senior laughed.

"He was always going to play in the Australian Open, whether it was this year or next year or somewhere down the line. We're very proud obviously."

"He hits the ball properly and strong, he has good ball flight and all those things. If he can settle into the round and play his game, he'll be plenty good enough."
Zac, who is set to go to college in the US next year on a scholarship, said the nerves had eased since Monday, but only "fractionally".
"They are still well and truly there. I can't wait to turn up and play," Zac said.
Stolz senior was regarded one of Australia's top talents and won a PGA Tour event in 2004 but chronic wrist injuries hampered his career.
He was set to skip this week's tournament after a recent flare up but Zac's achievement convinced him to play.
The parental pride is obvious, and so too is good-natured competition between the Stolz clan.
"He has one PGA Tour win up on me, so he uses that call all the time," Zac says.
Andre adds: "I have told him he has to pass me on the career money list before he can hang shit on me. He probably will."

Read More

No comments

An Adam Scott triple crown would top the lot, Craig Parry says

ADAM Scott tees off at Royal Sydney on Thursday relishing the prospect of completing the most successful summer in the history of Australian golf.

Former champion Craig Parry believes if Scott wins the Australian Open on Sunday to secure a coveted Triple Crown it would be a feat to match anything ever achieved in domestic golf Down Under.

Robert Allen by in 2005 is the only player to have won the Australian Masters, Australian PGA and Australian Open in the same season, but Scott is trying to emulate the rarest of hat-tricks after also combining with Jason Day to clinch the World Cup for Australia at Royal Melbourne on Sunday.

Parry is among an elite group of players also including Greg Norman, Peter Lonard and defending champion Peter Senior to have won all three Australian majors - but it took him 15 years.

"It's hard enough to win once, let alone the next week and now he's trying to win the Australian Open - and that's the big one," Parry said.

"Just the history of it, the great names that have won it, the mystique.

"Scotty's playing fantastic and the fact that he's had all the pressure on him coming back home to Australia and then delivered ... it's one thing to expect and another to do it."

Scott, the 2009 Australian Open champion, admitted joining Allen by in the record books would be a special end to a spectacular season in which the 33-year-old Queen slander become the first Australian to win the Masters at Augusta.

"I'm excited about this week, with the chance to win the Triple Crown," he said.

"There's a lot on the line, a lot to play for. I'm excited about having a go at it."

If a crack at the Triple Crown isn't motivation enough, Scott can also match world No.1 Tiger Woods' five wins for the year. Australia's world No.2 is at Tiger-like odds of $3.50 to win the Open, but Scott will need to outplay dual major winner Rory McIlroy and in-form Day for starters to have any hope of hoisting the Stonehaven Cup for a second time.

Scott is among a dozen former champions in the 156-strong field and not the only one eyeing a milestone victory.

Senior, who last year at 53 became the oldest Australian Open champion in history, is bidding to become the first back-to-back winner since Lonard a decade ago.

And Senior, Lonard, Greg Chalmers and Aaron Baddeley, who won the Open as a teenage amateur at Royal Sydney in 1999, are all striving to join legends Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Norman, Peter Thomson, Carnegie Clark and Norman Von Nada to have reigned at least three times.

"I think it'll be a well-earned victory for whoever ends up on top," Scott said.

Scott had his broomstick putter working a treat during Wednesday's pro-am, his only practice round of the week, notching five straight birdies, and said he couldn't be happier with his game entering the opening round.

"I did roll a few in on the back nine," he said.

"To see a few going in in the pro-am is always good, I think. You set the tone for the week."

Scott, Day and American Kevin Streelman have been grouped together for the first two rounds, while McIlroy is playing alongside Geoff Ogilvy and Matthew Jones.

Read More

No comments

Scott seeks to finish tour Down Under in style

World No 2 Adam Scott's victory lap of his home nation draws to a close this weekend, with the US Masters champion bidding to win the Australian Open for a clean sweep of the country's three marquee tournaments.

Australia's first winner at Augusta, Scott has battled exhaustion in a frenetic four-week swing Down Under, where he has won the national PGA and Masters titles in successive weeks before a third place finish at the World Cup on Sunday.

Amid the grind of training, playing, media appearances and sponsor events, Scott has enjoyed showing off his green jacket to fans and given a huge boost to the embattled local tour which has been devoured by the US Tour's new wraparound schedule.

Barring a terrible quintuple-bogey in his opening round at Royal Melbourne last week, which all but dashed his hopes of winning the World Cup, Scott has played impeccable golf on home soil but will be asked for one more special effort at Royal Sydney to clinch the 'triple crown' Down Under.

Compatriot Robert Allenby is the only player to win the Masters, PGA and Open treble in one season, but Scott joked that the 42-year-old had not passed on any tips from his 2005 triumphs.

"I caught up with Rob last night at the function and asked for some advice on how to go about it, but he didn't offer any up," he told reporters on Wednesday.

"I'm left to my own devices this week.

"At the end of last week I was tired and I was tired the last couple of days but I rested," added Scott, who won the 2009 Australian Open.

"That's how you have to balance a schedule when you're playing a little more than usual and I kind of had that in mind, knowing that I was playing four weeks. I've taken the days off where I can in the schedule.

"So today I feel good, kind of energised to get in. It's the Australian Open; it's the last week of the year for me, I want to finish big."

Scott, who edged world No 7 Matt Kuchar to win the Australian Masters, will vie with former world No 1 Rory McIlroy, who has had a barren year blighted by legal troubles and problems with his swing.

The two-time major champion, whose game has suffered since switching sponsorship and equipment to Nike, finished joint fifth at Dubai's DP World Tour Championship and said his game was in the best shape it had been all year.

"I've said for the last couple of months I just wanted to try and finish this season strongly and get some momentum to go in 2014," the Northern Irishman said.

"This would be the perfect place to get that first win of the year and give me a sort of springboard into the next season."

Both Scott and McIlroy will face stiff competition at Royal Sydney from Jason Day, who won the World Cup's individual trophy by two strokes on Sunday and drove Australia to victory in the tournament's team component with Scott.

Day's emotional win at Royal Melbourne was his first in Australia and came after he considered pulling out of the tournament when he learned that eight of his relatives were killed by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

World number 11 Day will be grouped with Scott and world number 43 American Kevin Streelman for the opening two rounds.

Read More

No comments