Adam Scott red hot in chase for title hat-trick

17 March 2016 06:23

Adam Scott made the ideal start in his bid for a third successive victory as Henrik Stenson looked to make amends for last year's near-miss in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Scott carded an opening 67 at Bay Hill to join playing partner Stenson in a share of the early clubhouse lead on five under par, alongside Scott's fellow Australian Marc Leishman and American duo Brendan Steele and Troy Merritt.

England's Justin Rose and Italy's Francesco Molinari were a shot behind on a crowded leaderboard as the early starters made the most of perfect conditions, with Scotland's Martin Laird - the 2011 champion - another stroke adrift.

Scott insisted he had not been at his best despite holing from seven feet for an eagle on the 16th and adding three birdies in a flawless round as he tries to become the third player in the last 10 seasons, after Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, to win on three straight PGA Tour appearances.

"I did not hit it great today," Scott told PGA Tour Radio. "There were a couple off line off the tee and into the green but my chipping and putting was there, fortunately.

"I had to make some putts, they were for par most of them, but I snuck a few in there and it added up to a good score."

Scott won the Masters in 2013 using a long putter and reached the top of the world rankings in May 2014, but has successfully reverted to a conventional club in order to comply with the ban on anchored strokes which came into effect on January 1.

The 35-year-old has said he wants to become the best putter in the world under the new regulations and added: " I probably won't be, but I'm heading in the right direction at least.

"You have to be ambitious and have high expectations for yourself. I'm going to have to be a great putter to win the biggest tournaments."

Scott blew a seven-shot lead after 36 holes in 2014 and Stenson experienced his own disappointment last year, taking a two-shot lead into the final round but eventually finishing second as Australian Matt Every became the third player in the tournament's history to successfully defend the title.

"I like the course, it sets up nicely for my game," Stenson said after five birdies in a flawless 67. "I'm a pretty strong iron player and you have to be that round here to set up those birdie chances.

"And even though I shot a good 67 today I played even better in the pro-am yesterday so it's heading in the right direction."

Rose carded three birdies and also holed from 20 feet for an eagle on the par-five 16th and 112 yards for another on the third, his approach pitching around six feet right of the pin and spinning sideways into the hole.

However, the 2013 US Open champion also ran up a double bogey on the 11th and dropped another shot on the first to finish four under par.

Source: PA