SCOTT’S COSTLY BRUSH WITH WATER
ADAM Scott screamed “far out” after putting a second ball in the water on the 18th hole at TPC Sawgrass as part of a horror opening to The Players Championship.
But a decision to “switch on” at a course he plays often paid off for fellow Australian Cameron Smith, who finished his interrupted first round within touching distance of the leaders.
Fears of bad weather were realised and players were pulled from the course in Florida during the opening round of the $27m showpiece event and spent four hours in the clubhouse as rain and thunderstorms wreaked havoc.
Several members of the seven-man Australian contingent, including Marc Leishman, Jason Day and first-timer Lucas Herbert, didn’t even get on course until after 5pm local time as play was delayed amid forecasts for more storms throughout the tournament.
Scott, who won the event in 2004, did complete his round, which fell apart on the 18th, his ninth hole, after a positive start.
The former world No.1 went to the tee at one-under but walked off the green at three-over after putting back-to-back tee shots into the water on the left of the fairway.
Scott was unable to rescue his round on the back nine and signed for a six-over par 78, which was one shot better than fellow Aussie Matt Jones, who shot 79, and the two men shared the last two places on the leaderboard, with several players unable to complete their opening rounds.
Calmer conditions when play resumed suited fellow Aussie Smith, a Florida local, who carded a threeunder round to be three behind the opening-day leaders Tommy Fleetwood and Tom Hoge.
Smith was unfazed by the rain delay and said trips to Sawgrass out of tournament play had become more serious recently for him in order to play at the event.
“I feel like I’m just coming out here just to practice.
“That’s normally what I do. It’s usually pretty cruisy around here, have a chat to the boys out the back,” he said.
“It’s all fun and games most of the time. I find it hard to switch on, so I’ve made it a point this year to act as though I’m at a tournament.
“I guess my record here is not that great. I wanted to try and change that.”
Leishman completed just one hole of his opening round, while Day and Herbert got in two before play was halted due to darkness.