How a big gamble saw Aussie golfer Adam Scott notch his best ever start in 22 Masters campaigns

A gamble to change gears paid off, giving Adam Scott a thrilling chance to win a second green Masters jacket ten years after his historic first.

With superb passing, Scott fired a four-under 68 for his best start in 22 appearances at Augusta National.

Australia’s only ever Masters champion then revealed he was ‘doing it’ after ditching his usual golf ball in a bid to find that winning feeling again after a slow start to 2023.

“I actually did a pretty major overhaul of my equipment,” Scott said after compiling three birdies, a brilliant eagle three on the 15th hole, and a lone bogey after finding the trees off the tee at the last.

Scott (pictured coming out of a bunker on the 12th hole) highlighted his round with a stunning eagle on the 15th

‘That may not be 100 percent comfortable, but I certainly saw advantages in it.

“I changed some shafts in my irons and my driver and my golf ball, so I’m swinging it a little bit.

“But it all feels pretty good. I putt very well today and that always comes in handy here.’

Scott sits in sixth place on the 10th anniversary of his 2013 milestone, three shots behind joint leaders Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland, and one behind fellow Australian former world No. 1 Jason Day.

Day holed a clutch par putt in last place to cap off a bogey-free first round 67 to finish tied for fourth place.

British Open champion Cameron Smith rounded out a thrilling opening day for the Australians with a 70 to also be in the mix.

“It’s great,” Day said.

“I had a conversation with Scotty yesterday. He was on his way to the gym to throw the weights around pretty hard, and I was eating on a golf cart – so a little different.

“But Scotty has been a good friend of mine so it’s nice to see him play well. I know he started a bit slow this year, but that can change with major championships.’

Jason Day shadowed his compatriot to finish in a tie for fourth place – jokingly highlighting the stark differences between his preparation and that of super-fit compatriot Scott

After making back-to-back birdies on the second and third holes, Scott rolled off 10 consecutive pars before coming alive late on the back nine.

He made a birdie on the par-4 on the 14th and then on the par-5 on the 15th on a breathtaking six-iron approach across the water.

Scott was unlucky not to get the par-3 on the 16th, his ball spun back and missed the cup by inches.

Unfortunately he missed the birdie putt and then another short try at number 17 before making his only bogey of the day on the last.

But he was still excited to hit a first-round 68 for the first time after opening with 69 three times before, including when he won in 2013.

The Masters champ (pictured on the 18th green) admitted that it’s always hard to keep his nerve in the front nine during the first round in Augusta.

Reigning British Open champion Cameron Smith (pictured) hit 70 to stay in the hunt

“I’ve always felt like I’m most nervous on a golf course, the first tee Thursday at the Masters,” Scott said.

‘It’s the build-up. We haven’t played a major since last summer. We all know how special this place is for golfers.

“It’s the anticipation and nerves, and competitive nerves, and it’s hard to control that, even through the front nine.

“I’ve had years where I really struggled, especially when you have a bit of a rocky start, which is easy because I think those are the hardest holes on the course, the first six or seven and it can slip you quickly.

“So somehow you have to get it under control and today I started really well so that was nice.

“You want to start each week off right, but we just don’t know what’s going to happen and how the weather might affect the rest of the week.

“So in a week like this, if you stick with it from the beginning, that’s probably helpful.”