It was five years ago at the WGC
Bridgestone event that Adam Scott reinvigorated his career and the 2013 Masters
champ will be looking for another kickstart this week as a heavy schedule of
big time golf gets underway over the next month.

Scott got very little out of some high
quality golf at the US Open a fortnight ago and with the Open Championship and
PGA to be contested over the next four weeks a good showing in Ohio will be
high on the agenda.

Scott has had mixed results in his 13
starts at the Firestone course with just three top-10’s aside from his 2011
victory.

But 2016 has seen a more determined Scott
on the PGA TOUR and with two victories already this season he will like his
chances in the 61 man field teeing up this week.

Along with World Number One Jason Day,
Scott will be among the favourites as the week gets underway but he is just one
of seven Australians in the field, all with plenty to play for.

Matt Jones, Steven Bowditch, Marcus Fraser,
Nathan Holman and Marc Leishman are also teeing up, Fraser for the second time
and Holman making his debut.

Holman earns his start thanks to his
brilliant win at last year’s Australian PGA Championship on the Gold Coast and
while it’s been a mixed bag for him on the European Tour since, he will be well
aware of the scale of the opportunity the week presents.

With only 61 players in the field, no cut
and big world ranking points on the line, there is nothing to lose for the
young Victorian and the ability to freewheel will hold him in good stead.

Fraser, too, will be a little more relaxed
with the news Jason Day has withdrawn from the Olympics.

The Victorian had been locked in a tense
battle with Scott Hend for the second spot on the Australian team but is now
all but assured of that place should he want it.

Scott and Day aside Marc Leishman will be
the Australian to watch this week after a solid performance at Oakmont was
spoiled by one poor round.

Leishman flies under the radar for the most
part but steps up at the biggest events, a third place here

two years ago testament to his liking for
the course.

The only concern for the one time PGA TOUR
winner may be fatigue, Leishman playing his second straight event after a
gruelling week at Oakmont.

Neither Steven Bowditch nor Matt Jones have
shown much form in 2016 though Bowditch was 12^th here last year.

Jones’ only previous trip around Firestone
produced a T33 result and he would be pleased to improve on that this week.