Georgia on Allenby’s mind
THE US Masters looms large for Robert Allenby as he reflects on his best start to a season since he joined the US Tour nine years ago.
Allenby, coming off one of his worst seasons in the US, has recorded four top-10 finishes this year - one more than last year.
The Victorian’s start to this season has him positively brimming with confidence little more than a month before the Masters at Augusta.
Allenby, No.26 on the world rankings, concedes that tournament is at the forefront of his mind.
“My main goal every year is to try to win a Major,” Allenby said. “My
main goal is to get some confidence, so I can go into Augusta with a lot of confidence. That’s my main objective, to try to achieve that.”
Allenby opened the year with a share of eighth place at the Sony Open, matching that performance at the Bob Hope Classic.
A tie for ninth followed at the Buick International before he shared third at the Nissan Open.
The only thing missing from Allenby’s stellar start to 2007 is a win.
His last victory on the US Tour was in 2001 at the Pennsylvania Classic, but Allenby believes a win is just around the corner. Statistically, he leads the Tour in birdie average and ranks in the top 10 in driving distance, greens in regulation, scoring average and all-round ranking.
He is also in 14th place on the FedEx Cup standings, trailing only Aaron Baddeley and Geoff Ogilvy among the Australians on Tour.
Beyond the statistics, Allenby’s confidence has been fuelled by his improved health.
His struggles in 2006 were well-documented.
After completing the domestic triple crown by winning the Australian Open, PGA and Masters despite battling a hand injury, Allenby spent most of last year hampered by a back problem.
The injury forced him to withdraw from some US Tour events and he carried it through the US Open, before finishing in a share of 16th behind Ogilvy.
For all his travails last year, his performance at the Masters was the best of his career - a share of 22nd behind winner Phil Mickelson.
“Even the doctors didn’t know what was going on,” said Allenby, a four-time winner on the US Tour.
“I’m finally starting to feel great. I’m heading back to where I should be - that’s up the top of the leaderboard week-in, week-out.”
Allenby’s confidence in his swing owes much to childhood friend Sandy Jamieson, a playing partner when the pair were junior members at Box Hill Golf Club. Jamieson and Allenby began working together last year and their partnership has flourished in the early stages of 2007.
The pair fine-tuned Allenby’s swing over the domestic summer before Jamieson spent two weeks in the US over Christmas, putting the finishing touches on the adjustments.
“At the Australian Masters and PGA I was working on so many things, really trying to get my swing right,” Allenby said.
“I knew I needed to do it. I just worked on it over Christmas back here in the US.
“I’m just happy that I am feeling great and my swing feels fantastic.”
