Adam Scott heating up for Masters

With some of golf’s biggest names taking the week off, Adam Scott seems to be building momentum at the Valspar Championship.

The No. 4-ranked player in the world was one under par through the first 15 holes at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Fla., on Thursday. This comes on the heels of a tie for fourth at the WGC-Cadillac Championship.

“It fit really well in my slightly odd schedule this year as far as my first event was last week and with the late start I needed to get some rounds in certainly before the Masters,” Scott said before play began.

The Australian seems to be adjusting well after a much-debated rule change that banned the anchored putter. He tried several new models over the off-season and feels confident with his play on the greens.

He says people have “probably made a bit too much of a big deal about it.”

Derek Ernst held the early lead on Thursday at five under. Henrik Stenson and Ernie Els stood just two shots back.