Scott taking positives to Kiawah

Australian golfer Adam Scott (30/1 to win outright with bet365) has vowed to take the positives from his recent major collapse before he tees off today in the final major of the season, the USPGA Championship.

The 31-year-old bogeyed the last four holes at Royal Lytham under a month ago to throw away an almost certain first major victory, which was eventually won by South African veteran Ernie Els (66/1 to win USPGA Championship with bet365).

However, despite being heartbreakingly close to victory the Aussie is determined to only look on the bright side as he tees off at Kiawah Island today.

“It’s certainly great to have another crack at a major so soon after,” Scott said ahead of the USPGA Championship.

“I played maybe the best golf of my career for the whole week really – unfortunately I didn’t get a win.

“But even with the last four holes, taking it as a whole, I played spectacular golf for such a long period of time in a major championship.

“That’s something I’ve been working to do for my whole career and finally that’s happened, so I’ve got to take the positive that I’m getting somewhere now.”

Donald inspired by GB heroics

Luke Donald admits he has been inspired by the success of Team GB at the Olympics as he goes in search of a first major at this week’s USPGA Championship (Donald 18/1 Tournament Outright with bet365).

The world number one has been on a roll in recent times, with five top 10 finishes in his last eight events, but he has still to win a major, after missing the cut at the US Open and ending up in a tie for fifth at the Open Championship.

He has won on both sides of the Atlantic this term and appears to be peaking at the right time with the Ryder Cup on the horizon (USA 4/5, Europe 5/4 Ryder Cup Outright with bet365).

But before the tussle with the USA in Chicago, there is the small matter of trying to nail down an elusive major and the 34-year-old hopes to take inspiration from what has happened in London, and admits he would love to be part of the event in four years time.

“Watching certainly has inspired me a lot in terms of having that wish to be there in four years, to have an opportunity to also win a gold medal,” he said.

And the talented Englishman feels that his display at Lytham, when he managed a top five finish despite not being on top of his game, bodes well for this week and beyond in the big tournaments.

“I think there was a little bit of a breakthrough,” he added. “Just realising at the Open Championship that no matter how I’m hitting it physically there’s always a way to mentally be on top.

Rose blooming at the right time

Justin Rose admits he is happy with his form heading into the USPGA Championship after an excellent display at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational (Rose 33/1 Tournament Outright – bet365).

The Englishman has enjoyed one of his best-ever seasons to date, with one victory in the WGC-Cadillac Championship and eight other top-10 finishes.

He has been consistent all year and, despite a slight blip at the Open Champion ship when he missed the cut, has secured five top 10s in his last seven starts.

The 32-year-old looks a certainty to be in Jose Maria Olazabal’s European Ryder Cup team and will not have to worry about securing his place in the side over the remaining weeks of qualification (USA 4/5, Europe 5/4 Ryder Cup Outright – bet365).

But he has still to win a major, with his share of fourth place as an amateur in the 1998 Open still his best finish in one of the big four events.

Rose has only one top 10 finish in the year’s final major and has failed to make the weekend in his last three attempts to improve that statistic.

But, following a tie for fifth place at Firestone Country Club on Sunday, the South African-born star confessed to feeling in a good frame of mind ahead of the trip to Kiawah Island.

“It’s been a pretty good week overall,” he said. “I played some nice stuff at points out there today so I am pretty happy with where the game is going into next week.”

The Orlando resident is happy with the way that he is swinging his clubs but knows that he will have to be at his best to challenge for the title.”

“It’s going to be a different test to this week obviously but I feel good about my game,” he added. “Hopefully I can keep that going and get the breaks you need to contend in a major.”

McIlroy talks up Atlanta hopes

Rory McIlroy (11/1 Outright Winner with bet365) claims he is “playing very well” going into the final major of the year and feels he has a “good chance” of winning the USPGA Championship.

The 22-year-old is fancied by many to win a second major title in the same year, after his runaway success at the US Open earlier this summer.

Last week’s sixth-placed finished at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational seemed to signal a return to form for the Northern Irishman after a lull following his success at Congressional.

McIlroy, who recently indicated that he will return to the US Tour next season, is upbeat about his prospects at this week’s major.

McIlroy said: “I drove the ball great last week, I’m hitting it nicely, I felt as if I got a really good practice round in yesterday, got all the greens mapped out.

“As long as I can hole a few putts this week, I feel as if I’m in with a good chance.”

The Ryder Cup star will play the first two rounds alongside fellow countryman and Open winner Darren Clarke and Masters champion Charl Schwartzel (1st Round 3-Ball Betting – McIlroy 21/10, Schwartzel 17/10, Clarke 16/5).

Westwood wants tough test

World number two Lee Westwood (14/1 – US PGA Championship Outright with bet365) has insisted he wants the course at the Atlanta Athletic Club to be as tough as possible, such is his confidence ahead of the US PGA Championship.

The Englishman enjoyed a decent showing at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational last week as he tied for ninth place in Ohio, following an impressive final day which saw the Australian Adam Scott (14/1 – US PGA Championship outright with bet365) take the title.

Westwood is now looking ahead to the final major of the season when he heads to Georgia in search of his first win in one of the big four tournaments.

The 38-year-old is pleased with his current form and confident he can handle anything the course in Atlanta throws at him this week.

He said: “The way I’m hitting the ball, the harder the better really.

“I haven’t hit many bad shots, I’ve missed probably three fairways so that’s good golf round here and I’ve not missed many greens either.”

Westwood has been working on his putting with former PGA Championship winner Dave Stockton ahead of the major competition which gets underway on Thursday.

McIlroy to build on USPGA experience

Rory McIlroy believes he can use being in the running for the USPGA Championship to help him in future major tournaments (McIlroy 16/1 2010 Race to Dubai winner with Stan James).

The Northern Irishman missed out on claiming his maiden major after missing a number of birdie opportunities during the final round at Whistling Straits.

The closest the 21-year-old came to lifting the giant trophy was when he was tied for the lead after overhauling overnight leader Nick Watney’s three shot lead.

However a missed putt on the 18th for three left McIlroy on ten under, one shot behind Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson.

Kaymer (25/1 2011 Masters winner) eventually won the three hole play-off to win his maiden major, leaving McIlroy with a share of third place.

Despite the disappointment of missing out on a maiden major McIlroy says he is looking at the positives he can draw from the experience so he can go one step further next time.

“It’s the first time I have been in contention in the last round of a major and going out in the second last group,” he said.

“I was feeling it on the first tee and it was a new experience for me and today will stand me in good stead in the future.

“I have put myself in position the last couple of majors. It is not a bad week but I would have liked a little bit better.”

The only good news for McIlroy is that his finish at the USPGA Championship has all but guaranteed him a spot in Europe’s Ryder Cup team.

Kuchar leads USPGA Championship by one

Matt Kuchar (4/1 with Stan James outright) fired a second round 69 to post a clubhouse lead by one shot at the USPGA Championship at Whistling Straits.

Fog again delayed the start but Kuchar was eight under at the close, one ahead of fellow American Nick Watney. However, half the field have still to finish their second round, including Tiger Woods, who played only six holes and was seven shots off the pace.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy (11/2 with Stan James) and England’s Simon Khan (40/1 outright) are among seven players tied for third on five under par.

The start of day two was delayed by two and half hours due to fog but Kuchar was one of 78 players who had to finish their first rounds on Friday – he carded a 67 – and he came back out to continue his good form in the second round, rolling in three straight birdies on his back nine.

“I’m very pleased with the way I’ve been playing. It’s been a great year,” said Kuchar.

“There’s definitely an element of luck involved in winning. The best way to approach a week is to give yourself a chance Sunday, and if fate is on your side, you find yourself in the winner’s circle.”

Overnight leader Bubba Watson shot two early birdies but three bogeys pegged him back to three under with nine holes still to play.

Khan was tied for the lead on eight under at one stage thanks to three birdies on the back nine.

But Europe’s PGA Championship winner finished with bogeys on the last three holes to leave him in the chasing pack three shots adrift.

“I didn’t feel I did a lot wrong,” Khan said. “I generally played well and it was just a shame about the finish but I’m still right in there.”

McIlroy carded an impressive 68 which included five birdies and one bogey.

McDowell raring to go

Graeme McDowell feels he is in good touch as he prepares for the USPGA Championship at Whistling Straits. (McDowell 55/1 to win USPGA with Stan James)

The 31-year-old became the first European winner of the US Open for 40 years when he took the title by one shot at Pebble Beach back in June.

He returned from a few weeks of celebrating to play in the Open Championship but failed to hit the heights of just a few weeks before.

However, the popular Northern Irishman is now back stateside and looking forward to competing with the best in the world at the year’s final major.

With the wind expected to blow in Wisconsin over the weekend, the players will be severely tested by the conditions and McDowell feels he is in good enough form to have a say in proceedings.

“You have to drive your ball extremely well around here or you’re in big trouble, simple as that,” he said.

“I’ve been hitting it really well in practice so the golf course felt kind of playable at times, but you can see if you get out of position on this golf course, you’re in a world of pain, no doubt about it.”

McDowell’s compatriot Rory McIlroy showed his potential with a scintillating opening round of 63 at St Andrews and he is, once again, among the favourites to win the tournament, with Tiger Woods out of form and Lee Westwood absent through injury. (McIlroy 15/1 sec fav with Stan James)

McDowell eyes needed rest

Graeme McDowell (4/1 to win 2010 Race To Dubai with Stan James) says he will take a much needed break from competitive golf, before preparing for next month’s USPGA Championship.

The US Open champion admitted his preparation was not what it could have been for last week’s Open, despite claiming a top 25 finish at St Andrews, and will now look to recharge his batteries.

The Northern Irishman will take a week off before returning to the European Tour event in Killarney, the Irish Open - a tournament won by Shane Lowry last year.

McDowell will then head to the USA at the start of August to play at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the USPGA Championship at Whistling Straits from August 12-15.

The 30-year-old admitted: “I need to re-set, rest up and get ready for a big three weeks and a big end of the season. I’m not going to do much this week and I’ve a lot of rest planned.

“The Open was maybe a week too soon. I’m now down from cloud nine to about cloud five. There was definitely a sense of coming down last week.”

McDowell’s success at Pebble Beach has ensured him a place on  Europe’s Ryder Cup team (4/7 to win at Celtic Manor with Stan James), which he admits was one of his ‘huge goals’ this year.

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