Arnold Palmer Invitational

A masterful start for Scott

March 21, 2014

Adam Scott matched the course record at Bay Hill with a 10-under-par 62 in round one of the Arnold Palmer Invitational © Getty Images

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From the time he celebrated that winning putt in the sudden-death play-off at Augusta National all the way to being just a few weeks from defending his title, there hardly seems to have been a day, an hour, a minute that Adam Scott has not relished being the Masters champion.

It is safe to say he has absolutely loved the experience, never having tired of talking about it, taking the green jacket all over the globe for others to see, reminiscing a million times about the final day and typically describing the events as if he were doing so for the first time.

How cool.

Not that Adam Scott needs any help in that department.

Everyone clearly enjoys their victory lap, but the Aussie makes it look like he has relished every inch of the journey. And it has been fun to watch.

Perhaps it has to do with the sporting-mad nation of Australia finally celebrating a Masters champion after a frustrating ride. Maybe it is the way Scott was understated in the week after his victory, but more than willing to show off the spoils of his victory, letting others see him in the green jacket.

It could just be that Scott, 33 - quite private by nature - can't help but share the experience.

"It's not hard to embrace that," Scott said after opening the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a 62 to take the first-round lead. "It's been something I've wanted a long time. So it may or may not be the one year I get to run around with the green jacket.

"It's been a lot of fun. I may as well have fun with it while I've got it. But it's been mostly what anyone talks to me about in the last 12 months since the Masters. That's what everyone is interested in. So it's not the hardest subject for me to talk about. I could spend plenty of time talking about it. I think you've got to embrace it."

He had - beautifully. And now his game seems to be shaping up just in time, too.

Scott matched the course record held by Greg Norman, Andy Bean and Gary Player by posting two eagles, seven birdies and just one bogey while needing just 23 putts.

Perhaps this was simply a hot putting round, but Scott had talked prior to the tournament about hoping to see his game emerge as this is his last event before the Masters. Looks like he can check that box.

In recent years, Scott has altered his schedule to be better prepared for the big events. He has seen value in getting rest and peaking properly, and he has valued the traditions those tournaments hold.