PLAYERS week another chance for Donald, Scott to come up big

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- They bumped into each other early Masters week and neither one had to say a word.

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Adam Scott and Luke Donald had both been on a mini-sabbatical of sorts. Three weeks alone with their games. Three weeks prepping for the next step; their first major where they would both step to the first tee on that seriously short list. The one formerly reserved for the likes Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood.

"We didn't have to say a word,'' Scott said. "We knew."

A changing of the guard? It certainly looked that way by late Sunday afternoon when both of them had their chances to win at Augusta National, but didn't. They came away not dogged victims, but rather young players whose games have reached the level where they can point to the majors, the World Golf Championships and, yes, THE PLAYERS Championship.

They've worked hard for it. Years of playing on both the European Tour and PGA TOUR. Years of grinding through long seasons and finding what works and what doesn't. Years of successes, years of struggles.

And for the moment? Virtual cruise control.

Yes, form is a funny thing. It can be here one day, gone the next. Or one hole. Think Rory McIlroy, another talented young gun who fits into the same mold.

But, take away one missed cut at the Northern Trust Open and Donald hasn't finished out of the top 10 all season. He won the World Golf Championship-Accenture Match Play and lost a playoff at The Heritage. Scott had a T6 at the World Golf Championship-Cadillac Championship and a second at the Masters.

"I think for me, I've had a good career, but I certainly haven't performed how I would have liked in the biggest tournaments, and I'll say the World Golf Championships and the majors, with the exception of this tournament,'' said Scott, who won THE PLAYERS in 2004.

"So, I mean, I feel for me to kind of complete my career I certainly want to lift my game in those events and hopefully win majors and World Golf Championships. So certainly I think I need to put a focus more on them. I feel like I can do that a bit because I've certainly proven to myself that I can win tournaments. You know, I've won over here a fair bit. I've won a lot around the world. But I need to somehow find bring a better game into the majors and I think better preparation will do that.''

Which meant three weeks off working at the Albany Golf & Beach Club in the Bahamas before the Masters and two working there prior to this week. He'll play at least once between here at the U.S. Open.

How/Getty Images

Adam Scott can become one of very few players with two victories at TPC Sawgrass.

Donald took just a week off heading into PLAYERS and will head to Wentworth for the BMW PGA Championship, then back for The Memorial before playing Congressional. But in past years he's tried a bit of everything with his schedule.

The bottom line? Scott summed it up: ''We've watched the most successful player in the last 30 years do that -- point to the big events." So why not?

Not that they're following Tiger Woods' roadmap perfectly, but they've reached that point where they are no longer background noise to Tiger's dominance.

They're suddenly -- maybe not so suddenly -- the ones to beat.

And guys who are setting the trends. Scott has given a certain essence of cool to belly putters; Donald has done the same for once solely preppy pink or green pants.

Scott's game was coming 'round last year, but his short game wasn't helping his long game. But since January the short game "has stepped up a level."

"It's complementing what I've done on my long game,'' he said. "Everything feels in good shape. I think I feel as complete a player as I ever have all around.

"I think everything is in as good a place as it can be, and from here it's just a matter of continuing to push myself to get better and better because I think there's room for improvement everywhere. I'm certainly not dominating golf, so I need to keep pushing myself and try and keep moving in a forward direction with it all. But I'm on a good track right now. I feel very happy about where it's all at.''

Donald could have two wins this year, maybe three, considering that T4 at the Masters. The key? That 79 at the Northern Trust. He went to the Accenture Match Play a day early and practiced through to Tuesday when he found something to right his swing. He tucked his elbow a bit more on takeaway.

"Everything seemed to fall into place from that point on,'' he said.

The win. A share of tenth at The Honda Classic. A T6 at the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship. The roll was on.

"Obviously top 10s aren't the goal, but being in contention, having chances to win is,'' Donald said. "It's just nice to kind of get to an event and feel pretty confident about where you're hitting the ball. Tee-to-green I feel like I've been a lot more solid this year, and you know, my short game has been pretty stellar.

"I guess I haven't been going there expecting to do well, but it certainly helps when you feel like you know where the ball is going. I've been on a good little run so far.''

And this week? Donald finished T2 here in 2005 and Scott won in 2004. Both were when the course played tougher and weather was always a factor.

This should be another dry week on an already parched course. And heat. Serious 90-degree heat.

Great weather for a run at the next big event on the schedule. A chance to pick up more FedExCup points and -- for Donald -- a chance to get to No. 1 on that FedExCup list if he wins here. But again, he said that comes with the territory.

"That's really just an outcome of going through the right processes and hopefully the results coming,'' Donald said. " If I go out and continue to work on what I need to work on and give myself the chance to win this week, and if I pick up the trophy, then great; it's one of the spoils.

"But it's certainly nothing I'm really concentrating on.''

Instead, it'll be the same as it has been all year -- great swings, solid putts, smart decisions, good clubs. And, as always, a little luck.

Neither one was down after the Masters. They both gave the credit to champ Charl Schwartzel, who made history by birdieing the last four holes to win. Well done. Well played.

But Scott and Donald didn't have to say a word to each other that Sunday afternoon either. Both knew they had made a serious run. Both knew they'd elevated their games.

Both knew they'd be ready for the next big event -- for this week.

Melanie Hauser is a columnist for PGATOUR.COM and can be reached at melaniehauser@gmail.com. Her views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR. Follow her on Twitter @melaniehauser.