Aaron Baddeley says he’ll get the perfect Augusta National tune-up this week while eight fellow Australians make last-ditch bids for entry to the Masters.
Just six Australians have secured starts at next week’s Masters – Jason Day, Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy, Baddeley, John Senden and amateur Bryden Macpherson.
Baddeley and Senden are the only ones who have opted to play this week’s Houston Open, where Redstone Gold Club has been set up to replicate Augusta National’s conditions with short rough and super-slick greens.
And they’re joined by countrymen Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby, Nathan Green, Marc Leishman, Nick O’Hern, Rod Pampling, Mathew Goggin and Gavin Coles, all chasing the victory that offers the last remaining way into the Masters.
With Tiger Woods back in winning form, Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald in the midst of a world No.1 ranking dogfight, plus Scott and Day coming so close to being the first Australian to win a green jacket in 2011, the 2012 Masters sets up as a classic with plenty of Down Under appeal.
Baddeley believes he’s made the right call to play this week.
“Playing the week before a major gives you insight on where you need to improve so you can be better prepared and completely ready,” he said.
“You can either play here or take a week off and go to Augusta early but I feel you can get a feel for some of the shots here.
“I have played well here a few times (he tied for fourth last year) so I enjoy coming to Houston. The golf course fits my eye and they do a really good job trying to get the course as close as they can to Augusta.”
Baddeley believes his plan to peak for the majors is coming along nicely.
The 31-year-old has made seven of seven cuts this year and has three top-12 finishes enough to have him sitting 28th on the US PGA Tour money list.
Despite making an impressive 78 per cent of cuts on the US Tour in the last five years the mark drops to just 40 per cent in majors over the same time period, with his career-best finishes being two ties for 13th (2007 US Open, 2008 PGA Championship).
“I feel I’m on the edge of playing really good,” Baddeley says.
“My results show it’s all right there. It really is such a fine line so you can’t go crazy chasing it.
“It’s probably as simple as a one better putt or one better shot a round and I’m looking at contending for wins.”
As far as being barely spoken of as a potential Masters champion Baddeley isn’t fazed.
“I like being under the radar,” he says.
“I can just go about my business and just prepare and not worry about anything else.
“But it’s absolutely a wide-open Augusta.”