Scott confident of regaining Scandinavian title

Australian Adam Scott expects to win a second Scandinavian Masters title in Stockholm this week.

The world number seven is the top-ranked player in the field at Kungsangen - compatriot Mark Hensby next in the rankings at 34th – and has no problem with being favourite to regain the title he won in Malmo in 2003.

“I am not coming here just to warm up and get ready for the USPGA. I am here to win the golf tournament like any other week and I expect if I play my best golf I should win this week," said Scott, winner of the Johnnie Walker Classic in Beijing earlier this season.

“I have had a good record in Sweden, I have never finished worse than eighth in four starts and won once. My form is good but for some reason the putting has let me down the last month or so.

“If you don’t putt well you are not going to win a tournament. It was frustrating in the final round at Loch Lomond and it was the same all week at the Open.

“It’s nothing serious with my putting. I still feel I am putting well inside six feet. I just have not figured out how to make the longer ones.”

Yesterday’s pre-tournament pro-am was cancelled after 180 millimetres of rain fell on the course over the last few days, and any further rain could lead to similar delays to last week’s first day wash-out in Hamburg.

Scott, who is staying with the family of his Swedish girlfriend Marie this week, added: “I think they made the right decision by postponing the pro-am and keeping the course in as good a condition as possible.

“The greens look great so hopefully we will get some sunshine and a bit of wind and that will lift a bit of the surface water lying around.

Luke Donald has not returned to defend the title he won in Malmo last year, so the main challenge is likely to come from last week’s winner Niclas Fasth, fellow Swedes Jesper Parnevik and Joakim Haeggman, and the fast-improving Hensby – fifth, third and 15th in the US Masters, US Open and Open Championship respectively this season.