Adam Scott struggles in opening round despite eagle

Adam Scott made a strong run for the green jacket in 2011, but there’s a chance he might not even see the weekend this year.

He bogeyed four of the first seven holes Thursday before making an eagle on No. 8. After a bogey at No. 9, Scott recorded all pars on the back nine to finish with 3-over 75.

The Aussie finished tied for second a year ago after carding back-to-back 67s on the weekend. Those rounds allowed him to briefly go to the top of the Sunday leaderboard.

“I have to have a good round (Friday) to think about getting myself into the hunt over the weekend,” he said. “They’ve used all the tough pins today, so I’m thinking there’s going to be some good scores (Friday) if it stays soft like this.”

Scott had been at par or better in each of his past three opening rounds at the Masters Tournament, but he often found himself pulling balls to the left Thursday.

“I’m a little disappointed,” Scott said. “My rhythm was poor. I hit some poor shots through the front nine especially and didn’t recover. It was not the way I expected to play, but that’s how it is sometimes.”

His day could have been worse had he not pulled out the eagle on No. 8. He also had a trio of three-putt greens after just one a year ago.

Though he’s proven his weekend capabilities in the past, he needs to first make the final two rounds.

“I’m going to have to have a good score, and I’m playing well enough to do it,” Scott said. “Just a slow start, that’s all.”