Baddeley confident he can save PGA Tour card

AARON Baddeley has credited the swing coach he shares with resurgent Adam Scott for instilling belief he can save his US PGA Tour status at this week’s Wyndham Championship.

Baddeley sits 12 places outside the top 125 on the FedEx Cup standings who qualify for the coming play-offs and earn US Tour cards for next season.

With his exempt status running out this week, Baddeley is likely to need a top-10 finish or better at the regular seasonending Wyndham event in Greensboro, North Carolina.

But 37-year-old Baddeley is not worried about FedEx Cup standings as his rank of 137 has all but guaranteed a spot in the secondary Web.com Tour finals — where he can earn back US Tour privileges — as well as conditional status on the main circuit next year via the 125-150 FedEx finishers category.

“I have no doubt I can get it done this week,” Baddeley said. “But even if I don’t, there are plenty of options for me to have enough PGA Tour starts next season.”

Baddeley, who owns four US Tour victories, is setting his sights higher than just retaining his card this week.

Having flirted with the lead and contended during the past two months at the US Open, Canadian Open and Barracuda Championship, the Victorian feels he can win the Wyndham Championship.

He says swing coach Brad Malone, who has enjoyed good results with former world No.1 Scott since they reunited, including a third place at last week’s US PGA Championship, has Baddeley feeling his best golf is yet to come.

“My results, I think, have been a combination of what Brad has laid out for me as well as the hard work I’ve been putting in,” he said.

“I have always been a tinkerer with my full swing, but Brad has simplified it down to four components I work on constantly and it has changed my game.

“This year has been one of the better ball-striking years I’ve had; I just haven’t rewarded it with good putting.

“But I feel the putter getting hot again and I know my best golf is ahead of me.”