Scott Arnold: Keeping It Simple
BY Anthony Powter | 17 Mar 2008
Scott Arnold keeps his golf simple and that’s the way he likes it. Judging from his win at last week’s Riversdale Cup, against a field that was arguably the strongest this season in Australia, this approach works.
“I’ve never been a technical player, in fact inside a 100 metres, I don’t even reach for a yardage book, but simply feel the shot,” remarked Arnold, currently the world’s 21st ranked amateur, and Australia’s 3rd.
Arnold prefers to play the course and work out the confronting challenges in the process. He knows no other way and it’s how his father, Colin, a tour professional himself, taught his three sons to play.
“I do not go into all that technical stuff with my swing. Dad and Warwick Dews help my out a bit with my short game, but I like to figure it out myself and keep it simple, that’s all I’ve done and been shown.”
Jamie, the eldest brother already has followed his father’s footsteps and joined the professional ranks. The youngest, Ben, is himself a handy State player. Arnold, 22, hopes to follow the same pathway as his father and Jamie, although there’s business as an amateur to attend to first.
“I’m just focusing upon this season at the moment, particularly in the UK and America, and see how things go. I might enter later in the year both the European and Asian Tour Schools, as an amateur, but really that’s the last thing on my mind at present.”
Major amateur titles, both locally and abroad, are now Arnold’s main focus. Arnold’s recent amateur achievements are already impressive, and reflective of his prodigious talent.
As a relative unknown, Arnold secured the 2006 Hong Kong Amateur Open as his first major amateur victory. Most simply flinched at the result, thinking it was a lucky one-off. Those close to Arnold knew otherwise, and to them, it was a signal of what the boy from Sydney is capable of achieving.
At last year’s Australian Stroke Play Championship at NSW Golf Club, four extra play-off holes were required to determine the title, after both Andrew Dodt and Arnold finished together at 4-under-par.
Dodt that day would claim the title from Arnold, but only after two testing putts on the fourth play-off hole, the second from a good five to six feet. Losing like that usually hurts a player, however, Arnold has bounced back, toughened and better from the experience.
“My game’s a lot better since last year’s Australian Amateur,” said Arnold. “I’m better mentally, than say, twelve months ago. That’s gone up 100% since then. You tend to learn and build from those experiences.”
Arnold’s game certainly has progressed since his encounter at his home club with Dodt. Within a few months Arnold was in contention again, this time at the home of golf, St Andrews in Scotland.
Closing rounds of 69-68 at the Old Course to finish runner-up at the St Andrews Links Trophy, confirmed that Arnold has the game to go the next level.
Whilst his 2007 tour to America was disappointing, his best a 14th finish at the Rice Planters Tournament, Arnold plans to rectify this in a few months, when he returns for his second tour.
Invites have already flowed in, including a start at the Western Amateur, the second ranked world amateur tournament, according to the Scratch Players ranking. The US Amateur being ranked the top. Arnold plans to play both.
“In America it’s tough, every guy in the field has a chance to win. It happens all the time and someone will go low in the final round, shoot a 62 or 63, and win a tournament.”
Arnold appreciates one of his biggest challenges is to get his scoring average lower.
“I’m more a consistent player than a streaky one,” remarked Arnold.
“Obviously, you need to shoot 63’s to win international tournaments and it’s something I’ve got to work on, but the mental side of my game is now very strong and the other will follow.”
The win at Riversdale last week and the way it came, after fighting back from a shot behind with two to play, was an indication that Arnold’s approach to the game is going to plan. It was his first major Australian title, and the timing was perfect.
“The way I was able to grind it out at Riversdale, well that meant a lot to me,” said Arnold this week in Sydney.
“This year, it’s all about consistency and I want to play well in the UK and Europe, before heading back to America to play in their major amateur events.”
Before returning to the UK and America, three main amateur events are to be contested in Australia. This week’s Mandurah Easter Amateur Open, next month’s Australian Amateur Championship and the Keperra Bowl in May. All are National Trial events and attract Australia’s main amateurs. They are ones to win.
Arnold continues to play the only way he knows, with feel. Tournaments are beginning to fall his way, as his game evolves and Arnold develops into one of Australia’s most promising prospects. He plans to simply keep going the way he is and take another Australian title this season before heading to the UK in May.
There are no plans to alter this approach, it appears to suit Arnold and it’s obviously working. It’s a simple strategy, but one that’s certainly effective.
