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Scott was 2-up with three holes remaining at the Austin
Country Club in his opening pool match but had to settle for a
halve with late-charging Belgian Thomas Pieters, keeping the
Australian winless at the event since 2010.
"It's pathetic," Scott told the Golf Channel. "I finished
par-par-par but just didn't beat the guy that I'm playing today.
You've got to close it out like you're trying to win a
tournament and that wasn't good enough today."
Already with two PGA Tour wins in 2016, Scott has had little
problem closing out recent tournaments but his old match play
struggles followed him to Texas.
He appeared on the verge of ending that skid, however, but he
sent his approach to the par-five 16th long and left of the
green. From a severe downslope, his pitch raced across the green
and led to a par as his opponent made birdie.
"I hit it in a spot on 16 that you just can't hit it," he said.
"Massive error."
Scott suffered first-round knockout defeats from 2011 to 2013
before skipping the event two years ago.
Last year, the 64-player tournament switched to the current pool
play format, guaranteeing each player at least three matches and
Scott lost them all.
The 2013 U.S. Masters champion will get another chance to snap
his poor run on Thursday when he faces Englishman Chris Wood
(0-1) in the second round of Group 6 matches.
American Bill Haas (1-0) is the other player in the pool with
the winner advancing to the Round of 16.
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angles; Editing by John
O'Brien)
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