No rest for weary heading into Masters
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA. The road to the Masters isn’t what it used to be.
For the last three years, Adam Scott has played at least three tournaments in Florida before heading to the Masters. Upon leaving the Honda Classic this year, he’ll log over 30,000 kilometres before he arrives at Augusta National for the April 6-9 tourney.
That journey includes a trip home to Australia. It does not include an appearance at the Dell Match Play in Austin, Texas. Scott isn’t alone. Henrik Stenson, who plans to play three times in the month leading to the Masters, has chosen to sit out Match Play. Justin Rose wants to play the Arnold Palmer Invitational and is likely to skip the Match Play for the first time.
Gary Woodland would love nothing more than to be at Bay Hill, but Match Play suits him. He was runner-up two years ago in San Francisco. And he is a past champion at Innisbrook. And then there’s Rickie Fowler. “I don’t know yet,” he said when asked if he was playing Match Play.
It’s clear that Fowler will be playing two of the three weeks leading into the Masters. But which one does he leave out? He said he would be at the Arnold Palmer Invitational this year, the first one without the beloved tournament host. That leaves the choice between Houston (“I like playing the week before the majors”) or the Match Play (“I don’t know yet”).
“I like the golf course. The tribute to Arnie would be awesome,” Woodland said. “But unfortunately, it’s the schedule. With Augusta that close and Match Play around the corner, it just doesn’t work out.”
Scott has one of the lightest schedules, and this year there are additional circumstances. His wife is pregnant, and she is in Australia to avoid areas where the Zika virus is prevalent.
“Look, I got to the point where I will not keep everyone happy all the time,” Scott said. “There are 42 events. I play not even half that many. I’ll have my favourites like everyone else.”