Scott searches for his game at Byron Nelson

Thursday, May 21, 2009

IRVING — Adam Scott cut short a trip to Australia last year for the Byron Nelson Championship because he believed he was playing too well to stay home any longer.

Instead of wasting that good play against his mates down under, Scott returned to the PGA Tour and won.

Scott is back this week from another overseas trip to defend his championship at the TPC Four Seasons Resort. Except this time, he is trying to rediscover his game — and hoping to finally make another cut.

“I need to play a lot more golf than I have,” Scott said. “Missing the cut, you don’t get to play too much golf.”

Since a runner-up finish at the Sony Open in January and two World Golf Championship events that have no cuts, Scott has missed the cut and not earned a paycheck his last five tournaments. The six-time winner had never before missed more than four PGA Tour cuts in the same season.

Even with a chip-in for eagle his final hole at The Players Championship two weeks ago, Scott missed that cut by one stroke. He also came one stroke away from playing the weekend rounds at the Masters.

“I was really close at The Players. That’s why I was grinding so hard to try and make the cut,” he said. “I just felt like if I could get that next round, I might put it all together. And I didn’t get that chance.”

Until today, when he tees off at the Byron Nelson Championship, where before he won last season he tied for third in his only other appearance (2006).

At The Players, Scott hit a 3-wood on his final approach to set up the round-ending eagle.

“The shot that got me up to the green was definitely the best shot I’ve hit in about two months,” Scott said. “I’m pretty excited about that, so hopefully a few more swings like that are on the way. I’m coming out here with good memories from last year.”

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