Day aims for Masters breakthrough

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Tied for second at last year's Masters, Australian pair Jason Day and Adam Scott are hoping to break an infamous drought at Augusta in 2012.

Day and Scott held the clubhouse lead after they signed off on their respective fourth rounds last year, before South African Charl Schwartzel stormed past the two to take the green jacket.

A resilient Day said a breakthrough win from an Australian was ever-nearing at the year's first major, after three players - Day, Scott and Geoff Ogilvy - finished in the top-six last year.

"For me, this is the Holy Grail to win this tournament. I would love to win this tournament one day. I do believe that an Australian will win it soon... in Australian sports, we have conquered a lot of different sporting events around the world. This is probably one of the last few that we would like to get to," Day said.

"But I would be very, very happy if one of the Australians this week won. Obviously I think that will kind of ease the pressure off our shoulders, and we can just go and play instead of worrying about being the first person to win."

Contrary to popular belief, Day believes mastering Augusta comes down to approach play to the green - and not shots made on it - to win the prestigious event.

"I think it's a lot about second shots here. Obviously you have to be pretty sharp with your short game. But if you can place the ball on the green in the right spot... you can walk off at the end of the week, if you placed them right, walk off at the end of the week saying the greens were slow, if you can leave yourself under the hole," Day said.

"If you short side yourself and leave yourself downhill putts or downhill chips, you're going to struggle. I believe that it's more about the second shots on this course, and that's what I'm trying to focus on right now."

Scott said he was not bothered by the hype heaped on Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy ahead of the event in Georgia, despite finishing two shots clear of Woods, and eight clear of McIlroy last year.

"I don't think it really makes a difference. It only matters how I feel about how my game is and not what people are saying," Scott said.

"I've come in here after winning Houston one year. But that didn't propel me to greatness here, and I was confident with my game."

"I feel my game is in great shape. I've certainly done enough work in the last few weeks to have it ready to be competitive here, and now I just have to go and do that."

Scott, 31, said he had a career-best putting performance at last year's tournament, benefitted by the use of the long putter - one he hopes to replicate starting Thursday.

He three-putted the opening hole of the tournament, but did not need three shots on the green for the final 71 holes at Augusta last year.

"I'm far more consistent putting with this (the long putter). My stats in every category went up last year. If you're a stats person and you want to look at that, you can look; every one improved," he said.

"I feel I make so many more putts from 10 feet and in than before, so that's great for my confidence. Every time I walk out on the course, I feel like I can have a good score no matter how I'm hitting it."

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