Scott returns to the Plantation Course at the Kapalua Resort on the island of Maui in Hawaii for the first time since 2014, his victory at the Genesis Invitational last February securing his spot alongside fellow Aussies Cameron Smith (Sony Open) and Marc Leishman (Farmers Insurance Open).

The two-shot win at Riviera Country Club almost a year ago was Scott’s first PGA TOUR start for 2020 and signalled a strong intent to contend for a second green jacket at The Masters.

The suspension of the season due to COVID-19, an extended stint at home in Australia, the reshuffled schedule of Majors and FedEx Cup playoff events and his own run-in with COVID-19 threw Scott off kilter, failing to finish inside the top 20 in any of the eight events he played following the resumption.

If turning 40 last July wasn’t enough of a reminder that time is of the essence, Scott enters 2021 determined to maximise the time he has to work on his game in the current climate and adapt better to the situation every player currently finds themselves in.

“I have to figure out a way to get it done,” said Scott, a runner up in this event in 2007 behind Vijay Singh.

“Even under these difficult circumstances, if I’m going to come out and play I want to come out and contend and not just make up numbers. Otherwise, I would rather not play.

“If I’m out here playing, I want to make the most of it. Who knows, my time is becoming less and less, that’s for sure, so I would like to contend a little more and win a little more before my time’s up.

“You kind of have to have a plan, but not everything is up to me, determined by me. Things are changing. Even just getting here, the parameters changed like three times in the weeks leading up to coming to Hawaii.

“So I have to be a bit flexible, but I think you’ve just really got to be on top of things at all times so nothing falls off the pace in any area of your game or in what you need to do to be at the top because there might not be that opportunity to work to get it back.

“I’m trying to just stay on top of everything and also be a little flexible with my attitude, not get annoyed when things are a bit more difficult and just take it for what it is. Getting time to see my coach outside of a TOUR event, and training and treatment and things like that.

“If you’re not based in the same place at the moment, it’s very, very difficult to actually get together. The UK’s just locked down again. My coach lives there. I know other guys have that too, but it is challenging. So just trying to manage things a little bit better.

“I played OK at the end of last year, but not up to the standard I want to play if I’m out here doing it.

“Trying to do a little bit better job of that from this point on.”

Unlikely to return to Australia until the end of the year, Scott is eyeing off both The Players Championship and The Masters as early targets to add to a world-class resume that boasts 31 tournament wins including the 2013 Masters, 2003 Players and two World Golf Championship titles.

The highest-ranked Australian currently at No.21 in the world, Scott didn’t rule out making space in his schedule for a tilt at a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, providing they can go ahead as planned a week after his 41st birthday on July 23.

“I would consider playing,” admitted Scott, who declined the opportunity to play in Rio de Janiero in 2016.

“It’s still not my priority for the year, that’s for sure, but I wouldn’t rule it out.

“You can never really say never, but it will certainly be something I’ll look at.

“Who knows where we are in the summertime.”

As for his return to Hawaii that comes with an added bonus of time to indulge his passion for surfing, Scott conceded that there are few better ways to start the year.

“It has been an event I’ve loved coming to for so many years. But then for a while it was a tricky one to get back to,” said Scott.

“Every time I missed it I regretted it but it was off the back of playing in Australia and being the first week of the year made it a very short holiday season for me.

“Once I won in Genesis it was definitely a priority for me to put this event on the schedule.

“It’s a great way to start the year. Even under these circumstances it’s nice to be here. And for me, at this moment, I need to kind of start putting some good results on the board and get my FedEx Cup campaign going a bit.”

Round 1 tee times (AEDT)

PGA TOUR

Sentry Tournament of Champions

Kapalua Resort (Plantation Course), Maui, Hawaii

7am       Adam Scott, Jason Kokrak

7.20am Marc Leishman, Billy Horschel

7.50am Cameron Smith, Kevin Kisner

Defending champion: Justin Thomas

Past Aussie champions: Steve Elkington (1992, 1995), Stuart Appleby (2004, 2005, 2006), Geoff Ogilvy (2009, 2010)

Top Aussie prediction: Marc Leishman

TV times: Live 10am-2pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday; Live 8am-12pm Monday on Fox Sports 503.