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AUGUSTA, Ga. - For all the talk about Adam Scott's great play of late and his relationship with idol Greg Norman, it's almost forgotten that no Australian has won the Masters.
Norman, of course, finished second three times, including a playoff loss to Larry Mize in 1987.
"I think it's only a matter of time before an Australian wins this," Scott said Monday at Augusta National, where players were greeted by warm, sunny conditions and a fast course. "We're so strong in world golf at the moment, six in the top 40 in the world rankings. It's stronger than it's ever been. If not this year, it will be soon. I'll be giving it my best shot."
Scott, 23, who won the Players Championship on March 28, is joined by fellow Aussies Robert Allenby, Craig Parry, Stuart Appleby, Stephen Leaney, Peter Lonard and U.S. Amateur champion Nick Flanagan.
Norman is not here, but did play a practice round with Scott at Augusta two years ago. That was Scott's first Masters, and he tied for ninth.
"He showed me around the course and pointed me in the right direction," Scott said. "It is very much down to the short game, this golf course. You can get yourself into some pretty trick spots out there. Hopefully, his chipping advice will help this week."
NO MARTHA: The huge, pink pig across the street from Augusta National Golf Club is missing. It was placed as a symbol of protest in 2003 against the club's all-male membership policy. Martha Burk, chair of the National Council of Women's Organizations who led a high-profile fight against the club and held a protest on Washington Road, also is missing.
But Burk has not given up her cause. She is scheduled to hold a news conference today in Washington to announce a campaign called Women on Wall Street. The campaign against gender bias will target companies whose CEOs are members of the exclusive club, Burk said in a news release.
It was about two years ago that Burk wrote to Augusta National chairman Hootie Johnson seeking a dialogue on women becoming members of the club. Johnson's response touched off a fury of debate that led to the club releasing its corporate sponsors so they would not become subject to possible boycotts.
Although the furor has subsided, the sponsors have not been brought back, which means televised coverage of the event in the United States will be commercial-free again.