Jordan Spieth fears Adam Scott comes armed with a "chip on his shoulder" as the home hope looks to thwart his quest for back-to-back Australian Open crowns.
World No.1 Spieth is approaching his defence of the Stonehaven Cup with major championship-like intensity as he bids to become the first player since Peter Lonard in 2004 to retain the title.
But even after enjoying one of the most spectacular seasons in golf history Spieth is wary of the wounded Scott.
Australia's former world No.1 has dropped to 12th in the rankings in a lean 2015 and will tee off at The Australian on Thursday desperate to continue his proud record of winning at least one tournament every year since 2001.
Scott is also smarting after squandering the halfway lead at last week's Australian Masters with a horror third-round 77, but Spieth knows the 2013 US Masters winner remains a huge threat.
"I think he's the guy to beat this week. He had it last week and he just had an off day in the wind," Spieth said.
"He comes into a place that he's obviously comfortable with, he's played well, he's had good rounds and he's fresh.
"He's also probably got a bit of a chip on his shoulder too off of last week, especially being back home and everyone saying you haven't won since the Colonial 2014.
"I guarantee you, he doesn't like hearing that and so he's going to go about trying to change that and I'd like to give him a charge."
Spieth's six-stroke win last year, highlighted by a scorching final-round 63, sparked a spectacular 2015 in which he won two majors and the US PGA Tour's season-long FedEx Cup.
"I felt after that Sunday round here at the Australian Club a year ago that my victory in Sydney would do something for me, but not launch the type of year I've had this year," he said.
Ominously for his challengers, of which only Scott and world No.44 Marc Leishman are in the top 50, Spieth has returned with a similarly steely focus.
"Anywhere you can go back and you have great memories can help you out that week and it just puts good vibes in going forward," he said.
"I'm looking forward to trying to do the exact same thing as last year."
The Texan has reunited with his long-time coach Cameron McCormick and says having his Australian mentor by his side during his stint Down Under adds to his confidence levels.
"We always work like it's a major championship and that's what we've done this week," he said.
After winning the Masters and US Open this year, Spieth had the rare chance to complete a fabled calendar-year golfing grand slam.
His shot at history came to an end with an equal-fourth placing at the British Open, where he missed a playoff by a shot, before he was runner-up to Australian Jason Day at the US PGA Championship.
Spieth admits it'll be tough to ever top his "dream" season, but insists it is possible.
"You have to approach it believing that you actually can improve," he said.
"It's not always going to happen, but there's a chance that it can all come together and we can even improve on last year.
"I believe that. Otherwise there would be no point in me setting lofty goals."
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