Adam Scott believes he's well primed to add a third victory in Florida to his 2016 resume at this week's Players Championship.
The US PGA Tour's current FedEx Cup points leader claimed the Honda Classic and WGC-Cadillac Championship back to back earlier this season in the sunshine state and says the rust is off after a tie for 17th at the Wells Fargo Championship in North Carolina last week.
Scott won the lucrative Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass - the US tour's home base - in 2004 but hasn't finished higher than 15th here in the last eight years.
He is seeking to become just the seventh player to win the event multiple times, joining Jack Nicklaus (three), Steve Elkington (two), Hal Sutton (two), Fred Couples (two), Davis Love III (two) and Tiger Woods (two).
With the biggest purse in golf at $US10.5 million ($A14.26 million), $US1.89 million ($A2.57 million) of which goes to the winner, the event is often referred to as the fifth major.
"I love playing here. This is one of my favourites and something I look forward to every year," Scott said.
"Obviously it's been a long time ago to think back to winning but I love this golf course, the challenge of it and just the general importance of the tournament is huge.
"How people rank it is up to them but the players here know the challenge of the golf course, and the strength of the field, and that's what counts.
"Part of the plan in playing last week was to get a handle on where my game is at so I am definitely more comfortable this week, knowing I can contend rather than feeling like I can contend."
World No.1 Jason Day has had his troubles at Sawgrass in the past, missing three cuts in five starts, but is hopeful he can turn things around.
Like Scott, he places significant importance on the event.
"It's a golf tournament that you really do want to win and have it on your resume at the end of your career," he said.
"This is one of those tournaments where, if you're on the border of getting into the Hall of Fame, this could kick it over and get you in."
Fellow Australians Marc Leishman, Matt Jones, John Senden, Steven Bowditch and Aaron Baddeley are also in the field.
Baddeley jumped in off the alternate list when former US Open champion Webb Simpson withdrew to be with his wife as she delivered their fourth child.
World No.2 Jordan Spieth, who can take top spot back with a win if Day is not second, makes his first appearance since his Masters meltdown.
"I have put it behind me," Spieth said.
"I'm not sure how it'll feel if I work into contention again. I imagine thoughts won't come up, because it was just one bad hole with bad timing on my miss.
"I'm ready to move on and work back into contention. After a month off, it felt like a bit of an off-season, so it's almost like a new year starting this week."
Share
