Adam Scott Says Goodbye to The Anchored Putter

By Billy Dowling | Mar 5, 2015

It’s been a long time since we last saw Adam Scott, and a lot of things have changed. He’s a father now, with a new caddie, and a new putter. The world’s number five player in the world is making his long awaited 2015 debut at the WGC-Cadillac Championship. Gone is Steve Williams, the most famous caddie other than Dannie Noonan. The long time looper and Scott decided to part ways after Williams expressed a desire for a lighter schedule.

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To go with a different man on the bag there’s a new putter inside of it. With the ban on anchored putters a year away Scott has put his on the shelf for now. He’s not the only player in the world who is dealing with this issue but he’s arguably the most successful. Will this be an issue for the former Masters champ, or is his game good enough to get past the switch?

Believe it or not Scott is entering his fifteenth season on tour. It still seems like yesterday that he was the young Australian prodigy with a swing that looked like Tiger Woods and a potential to match his lofty accomplishments. His Players Championship win in 2004 was supposed to springboard him to major success. Little did we know it would take almost ten years for the Aussie to win a major. A lot of that had to do with the putter.

Prior to 2011, Scott played in forty-two majors collecting just four top tens and failed to play the weekend thirteen times. Since then he’s missed just one cut and finished in the top ten eight times including slipping on the Green Jacket in 2013. It may be a coincidence or it could just be the putter. He mastered the anchor and it has elevated his game to the level we all expected him to reach.

With just one year remaining till the ban comes into effect he has started to transition away from it. This week is the first time in four years he will be playing with a traditional putter. For Scott he thought it was time to make the switch sooner rather than later.

"“I thought because I do have to make an adjustment by the end of this year, if I’m going to spend some time doing it, I should try and start now and maybe find the best solution” Scott said. “It’s not that big a deal. I did it for a long time, too, that way. I’m just going to do it and see what happens. I think the important thing for me will be to just stay patient with it for a little bit.”"

He may not think it’s that big of a deal but the stats don’t lie. Scott has turned into a dominant player in the world with the anchored putter. Confidence is half the battle in golf. These guys are creatures of habits, they have their routines, and tendencies that bring success. The margin for error can be really small in this game. If something is off by just a little bit that could be the difference between winning and making the cut.

A year ago Scott was the best player on the planet and after one of the longest breaks of his career, it’s time to get back to business. Just cause he’s been away for a while doesn’t mean he’s back for a stroll in the park. After a year with no major titles and just one win on tour Scott is looking to get back on top.

"“It’s hard when you sit at home,” Scott said. “You think, you just want to be in that position again. I’m going to try and make the most of it.”"

All quotes from PGATour.com

Next: Patrick Reed, Cocky or Confident?

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