Smart money on Scott and genius caddie

THE TIPPING POINT

with AARON DUNNE THE ban on the anchored putter which came into effect at the start of this year led many golf pundits and fans alike to fear for one man in particular — Australia’s Adam Scott. A perennial PGA Tour winner — he has won 12 tournaments on the US tour, more than any other active player under 40, with Rory McIlroy on 11 and Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson with nine wins each his closest rivals — everyone was waiting with bated breath to see how the Queenslander would cope this term. But Scott has put any such fears to be bed with some style with his performances so far this term. Victory at the Honda Classic last week, where he held off the surging Sergio Garcia by a single stroke, saw him go one better than the week before at the Northern Trust Open where he was somewhat unlucky not to make a play-off. His win in Florida last week saw his odds for next month’s Masters cut from 22/1 to 18s, but he still represents superb value with the first major of the season creeping into sight. Scott (below) has form at Augusta, having claimed the green jacket in 2013. And with arguably the world’s best caddy in Steve Williams set to be on his bag again in Georgia, Scott looks the form horse, especially with the world’s top three in McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Jason Day yet to set the world alight in 2016. With a couple more big displays likely between now and April 7, now seems like a good time to get behind the affable Aussie with the genius of Williams likely to make all the difference.