Wednesday 11 June 2014 17:55, UK
Adam Scott is hoping to improve on his relatively poor US Open record as the world No 1 heads to Pinehurst this week looking for a second major.
The former Masters champion had performed well in the other three majors but the US Open has been an Achilles heel with six missed cuts in 12 outings and a best finish of tied 15th in 2012.
The Australian has risen to the top of the world rankings this year though and cemented top spot with a win at the Crowne Plaza Invitational and fourth at the Memorial.
Scott, 33, says his aim is to build a game that can challenge on any course, and he hopes he can show that improvement at the US Open this week.
"I haven't had the best record at the US Open. It's hard to put a finger on a lot of it," said Scott.
"I've talked to you all about 10 years of playing pretty average, by my own expectations, in majors and tried to improve that the last few years, and I think I've done a good job. But maybe not quite as good at the US Open.
"However, I felt at Olympic I played very well the last 60 holes or so after a really bad start on Thursday. Maybe it's coincidence that I haven't had my best stuff at a US Open but I certainly feel like where my game's at now, and the past few years, I should be able to compete here.
"I'm trying to build a game that can play anywhere so it's a good week for me to kind of turn the corner and get in contention. I think this course sets up well to me."
With a remodelled Pinehurst including natural sandy waste areas which have been said to resemble golf back in his native Australia, this could be a golden chance for Scott to improve his record.
"It's been much anticipated by most of the players coming back here and I don't think anyone's disappointed," Scott added. "I think what they've done has made a great golf course even better and it's going to present a great challenge this week.
"Certain bits of it remind me of home. The edges of the fairway are a little bare and that's fine, because the fairways are very generous. The proportions are all right.
"The waste areas and some of the green surrounds are similar to sand belt golf back in Australia. But it also reminds us of a lot of other parts of the world as well. People have mentioned Pine Valley and Sunningdale so it's a really nice mix."
