Adam Scott determined to improve his US Open record

Nobody could accuse Adam Scott of overextending himself this year. Like a lightly raced thoroughbred, he has ascended to the number one position in the world rankings off a carefully mapped out itinerary: just nine tournaments, the kind of schedule that should have him fresh and ready for the examination at Pinehurst No 2.

On the evidence of his past US Opens, the Australian will need his wits about him.

He may have a target on his back as the world number one. He may know what it takes to win a Major, having made the breakthrough in last year’s Masters tournament at Augusta National. He may be as laid-back as they come on tour.

But even his patience has been tried on these set-ups.

In 12 previous outings in the US Open, Scott has missed the cut no fewer than six times and his best ever finish was 15th, in 2012 at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. Nope, this hasn't been a happy hunting ground for the great Scott.

Good job

“I haven’t had the best record at the US Open,” admitted Scott. “It’s hard to putt a finger on a lot of it . . . . . I’ve talked about ten years of playing average, by my own expectations in Majors, and tried to improve that the last few years. And I think I’ve done a good job. But maybe not quite as good at the US Open.”

At least there were signs at Olympic two years ago that he had finally managed to get his head around the specific demands of contesting in a US Open, and he also survived into the weekend at Merion last year.

“The confidence grew last year. I battle a little bit. Maybe it’s coincidence that I haven’t played my best at US Opens but I certainly feel like where my game’s at now, and the past few years, I should be able to compete here.”

He added: “I’m trying to build a game that can play anywhere. So, it’s a good week for me to turn the corner and get in contention. I think this course sets up well for me.”

Certainly, Scott – who secretly got married without undue fuss in a ceremony after the Masters – has the confidence boost of a recent win in the Colonial tournament (where he defeated Jason Dufner in a play-off) and followed by a tied-fourth placed finish at the Memorial.

It’s as a good a springboard as you can get coming into the season’s second Major.

“It’s definitely getting there, if it’s not there. I think winning at Colonial was a big feather in my cap,” he said.

Perhaps the real feather in Scott’s cap coming in here is that Pinehurst No.2, unique and all as it is since the renovation with its tracts of native areas rather than rough outside the fairways, is that there are similarities with the Sand Belt courses in Australia where he crafted his game.

Waste areas

Although, as Scott pointed out, no player would want to be playing too much golf from those waste areas.

“If you spend the week playing out of that, you’re not going to do well.”

“They’re all very demanding,” he said of the similarities with his home courses, adding: “here maybe the most . . . . imagination is going to be a big thing.”

He’ll need to produce the required imagination it if he is to change a pretty dismal US Open record.