Adam Scott says his putting has to change next season, confident it's the only thing preventing him playing at the level of Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth.
With a tied eighth finish at the Tour Championship on Sunday former world No.1 Scott finished his US PGA Tour season with a fourth consecutive top-10 result in the four playoffs events, but he was eight shots behind winner Rory McIlroy.
Despite winning twice and making over $US6.4 million in on-course earnings in season 2015-2016, the biggest earning year of his career, Scott was left to lament his performances in the major championships.
In 19 majors from the 2011 Masters onwards Scott finished in the top 15, 15 times, including his breakout win at the 2013 Masters.
But in his last five majors he has failed to contend, with a pair of tied 18ths, well off the pace, his best return.
"My season in general was certainly an improvement from the previous year so that's a positive. The only disappointment for me was my performance in the majors," Scott said.
"It wasn't far off but I expect very high performances and I didn't produce."
And the blame he says, lies squarely with his putting.
While Scott led the US tour in strokes gained: approach to the green he could not cash in, ranking 129th in strokes gained: putting.
"The putter for the last three-quarters of the year was below average and that will have to change," he said.
"If I were to hit it like this year next year and putt well I feel like I'd be playing like Dustin or Jason or Jordan (Spieth) or Rory.
"I've got to reassess how I'm going into majors. Last couple years it's trending the wrong fashion. I've got to get better prepared.
"Take a guess I'll play less next year than I did this year though maybe more around the majors."
But playing less is not on the agenda in the coming weeks as Scott prepares to make a run through Japan, Malaysia and China before hitting the Australian summer to play the Australian Open, World Cup and Australian PGA Championship.
"I'd love to win the Aussie Open for a second time. I'd like to have a run before I'm too old to get my name on the Stonehaven Cup three, four, five times like the greats have," Scott said.
"The World Cup should be good fun with Jason, hopefully he's healthy, and then the PGA is always a fun event. It's going to be another good summer of golf. Big names down there, people will be excited.
"But the big focus is the Aussie Open. I've had a couple close calls there and I'd like to win again this year. It (Royal Sydney) is a great track."
Scott finished the season-long FedEx Cup points race in fourth place, equalling his career-best mark from 2013.
World No.1 Day, who was forced to withdraw in the second round at the Tour Championship with a back injury, dropped to sixth in the FedEx Cup.
His long term prognosis is not yet clear although he remains hopeful of avoiding any surgery and just resting up before playing the Australian Open and World Cup in November.
