SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 27, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Australian Adam Scott rolled in a
54-foot eagle putt on the way to a seven-under par 65 and a share of the
first-round lead Thursday in the US PGA Tour Safeway Open in Napa,
California.
Scott, who hit 14 of 18 greens in regulation, had six birdies and a bogey
at Silverado in Napa, California, where he finished the day tied atop the
leaderboard with American Andrew Landry.
The duo were one stroke in front of Italy’s 2018 British Open champion
Francesco Molinari and American Matthew NeSmith.
Scott teed it up in this early event of the US tour’s 2019-2020 season with
his eye on the Presidents Cup match play tournament at Royal Melbourne in
December.
The 39-year-old Aussie, who took time off after finishing tied for fifth at
the Tour Championship in August, goes into the season seeking a first title
since 2016, when he won the Honda Classic and the WGC event at Doral.
He had runner-up finishes at Torrey Pines and the Memorial tournament this
year, and remains confident he can return to the winner’s circle before too
long.
“I just need to keep the intensity up,” Scott said. “I feel like I’ve had
points like this in my career before — most obvious to me was in 2012, where
I played great all year and didn’t win.
“Eventually, I won a tournament late in the year in Australia just because
I kind of kept up the intensity and kept pushing forward. So I kind of feel
like I’m in the same place now.”
Scott, playing Silverado for the first time, found it to his liking.
“I actually really enjoy this kind of tighter, smaller style courses,” the
former Masters champion said.
“A lot of the holes remind me of a lot of golf in areas of Australia, too,
with the big trees. I know they’re oaks here, but there’s some eucalyptus
around this area. Looks similar to Australia, so I feel quite comfortable out
there.”
In addition to his eagle bomb, Scott rolled in a 32-foot birdie at the
14th.
“I’ve been putting really nicely this whole year,” he said. “I’ve been
rolling some long ones in, which is obviously very helpful no matter what
they’re for, par or birdie or eagle. But I felt really solid on the greens,
so I’m just going to try and keep that going.”
Landry matched the early target set by Scott, seizing his share of the lead
with a 20-foot birdie at the eighth — his 17th hole of the day.