Interview: Stuart Appleby

Despite loving Augusta National, Stuart Appleby tells skysports.com that he's always found low scores hard to come by.

With his big driving and sharp short game, Stuart Appleby has always looked a good fit for Augusta National. Those skills have helped him rack up nine wins on the US PGA Tour, including last year's Greenbrier Classic when he achieved every golfer's fantasy - winning the tournament with a final round 59. Appleby has played in 13 of the last 14 Masters (he missed last year's event), making the top 25 five times, and in 2007 he went into the final round with a one-shot lead before fading to tied seventh. So does he think he can become the first Australian to win the famous Green Jacket?... What are you favourite memories? SA: I've been there so many years. It's just the place. It's hard to quantify one thing. I remember playing with Nicklaus when he was in a run of form. I remember my first year I played really well (tied 21st). I remember just how dynamic the course was. Still to this day you're learning something about the course. It's one of the few courses in the world where you're constantly learning. It's a special place. It's a unique place when you enter the gates. Do you remember the first time you went to Augusta? SA: I played with Ernie Els when he invited me for a pre-round in 96/7 and it was breathtaking. Did you watch it on TV as kid and what are your favourite TV moments? SA: Yeah I watched it a lot. Coverage usually finished at 7 or 8 in the morning. So I'd get Mum to run me into school because I'd probably miss the bus. I remember getting up plenty of times at 4 or 5 in the morning. I remember Woosnam, Seve, Faldo, Norman - all the names - Nicklaus, Watson - I've been around long enough that they were playing in their prime back then. Mize, Sandy Lyle Does the course suit your game? SA: I like the course. I don't know if it suits my style. It's a tough course, I've never really shot low around there. It's a tough one for me to shoot low numbers. It's always been a tough one for me to get two or three under at best (the stats show that Appleby has broken 70 just once in 42 rounds at Augusta National). How will you prepare for The Masters? SA: I'll try and make sure my game is in the best possible shape. I'll make sure my chipping and putting are really sharp - that'll be really important. If you don't win who do you think will? SA: Phil (Mickelson)'s obviously very, very comfortable there. If he can feed off how comfortable he feels there, no one feels more comfortable than him and I think if his game's in form he'll be odds on for sure.