Aaron Baddeley will use momentum gained from Torrey Pines in his attempt to win at ‘home’ in Phoenix for a second time.
Baddeley won the 2007 Phoenix Open in record fashion, sitting six shots back after the opening two rounds, the Victorian shot a pair of weekend 64s to win by a shot at 21-under.
The late blitz remains a record weekend for the tournament since TPC Scottsdale was lengthened to its current mark and fuels the positive vibes for Baddeley as he looks to make a move back towards a Masters invite.
Coincidently Baddeley comes into the US PGA event having shot the best score over the fog-delayed ‘weekend’ at Torrey Pines as he rocketed from a tie for 69th to a tie for sixth.
Baddeley makes his USA base in Scottsdale, not far from this week’s course, giving the week a real ‘home’ feel.
“I do love playing in front of friends and family back in Phoenix,” Baddeley said.
“It’s great to see a lot of familiar faces and have their support and given the momentum I can use from Torrey and the desire to get another win on tour I’m excited for the week.”
Baddeley moved back to 80th in the world after Torrey Pines, giving him two more weeks to jump inside the top 64 for the upcoming WGC Match Play Championships.
After that goal the 31-year-old has until early April to move inside the top 50 to get back to Augusta. A win would take care of both goals.
But his results in the event outside the winning year haven’t been great, with nothing better than a tie for 35th in the five attempts since.
“That year I just played great and I’m not sure why I haven’t done as great since, perhaps because it’s such a busy week usually,” Baddeley says.
“Plus there are a few tee shots that I’m not 100 percent comfortable with and despite living very close I hardly ever play here.
“Everyone talks about home course advantage but outside of the tournament I might play the course maybe three times and the conditions are never the same.
“The course plays completely different. In saying all that this year most of my commitments are done early so it will be great getting out there and playing with this game that’s feeling pretty good.
“And I still go in with plenty of confidence given that win.”
The tournament is most famous for the stadium 16th hole where fans are encouraged to be as rowdy as possible, far from the golfing norm.
“I love it, I don’t get as nervous as I used to,” Baddeley says.
“I think you need to embrace it, if you don’t then don’t play the tournament.”
Jason Day, Geoff Ogilvy, Marc Leishman, Greg Chalmers and Alistair Presnell join Baddeley in the field.
