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The Australian Open this week is all about the rematch between the No 1 v No 3 in the world, as Adam Scott lost a place when his birdie putt on the 18th hole lipped out at The Metropolitan in Melbourne on Sunday - leaving him with a share of second place.
Meanwhile Sweden’s Henrik Stenson held off world No 1 Rory McIlroy to claim the European season-ending tour championship in Dubai and slip past Scott into the No 2 slot. Scott is unlikely to need any more motivation for his rematch with McIlroy at the Australian Golf Club in Sydney this week, after the Northern Irishman spoiled his rare opportunity to claim Australia’s triple crown of tournaments at Royal Sydney last year. But if he does beat the world No 1 to the title here, he is also likely to take back that lost ground on the rankings.
Neither player will arrive in Sydney claiming to be in career-best form, but both will be coming off runner-up finishes and with enough in the tank to recreate the fireworks they produced at their last meeting in the harbour city.
Scott left Melbourne yesterday believing he had found his rhythm on the final day of the Masters, and that the Australian layout, recently redesigned by Jack Nicklaus, will suit his style better than the confines of Metropolitan.
“I felt in good shape coming (to Melbourne) and just got knocked around on Thursday with that northerly (wind),’’ Scott explained on Sunday.
“I got a bit out of sorts and it’s taken me a couple of days to get back to where I thought I was. I’ve chipped away at it, today was definitely the best I’ve swung the club, chipped and putted.”
Scott hasn’t played the course since he was an amateur — he missed the two Australian Opens played there in the past 10 years (2004 and 2007) — but that’s unlikely to hurt his chances.
Some of those who have played the remodelled course say it may as well be brand new, so extensive are the changes. It is longer and much of the rough has been removed but the greens and bunkering are entirely different.
“I just remember it as a pretty long, tough golf course, demanding, and that’ll kind of suit me,’’ Scott said.
“If I get to hit the driver a bit more, that’s certainly to my advantage.”
McIlroy left Dubai less certain of his form but confident of his ability to contend no matter what.
“Given how I have played the last few days, second place isn’t too bad,’’ McIlroy said. “I didn’t have my best golf at all this week but at least I gave myself a chance (to win).
“It’s been a great season in terms of the wins I have had but these weeks are what I am proud of as well. In years gone by when I haven’t played my best golf it’s been middle of the pack, not a second-place finish. It’s something I am really excited about. My level of consistency is much higher and hopefully that will give me a lot more chances to win.’’
McIlroy will certainly want to put up a sturdy defence of the Australian Open title that sparked his run back to the top of the world this year. The Northern Irishman had not won for a year when he arrived in Australia last November but rediscovered his mojo in Sydney, where he birdied the 18th on the last day to snatch the title from Scott, who said at the time he was “gutted’’ by the result.
McIlroy went on to win two majors this year, the British Open and US PGA championship, as well as a world golf championship (Bridgestone Invitational) and reclaim the world No 1 ranking. He also won the European Tour’s Race to Dubai for the second time in three years.
In the same period, Scott has nursed his hurt from that near-miss at Royal Sydney with a view to reversing it this week.
Going into last year’s Australian Open, Scott looked like the best player in the world. Coming out, McIlroy looked like the No 1.
The question now is who will be on top next Sunday.
