Adam Scott admits his narrow Australian Open loss to world No.1 Rory McIlroy last year remains a thorn in his side but says he’s focused on making history with a third straight win at the Australian Masters.

World No.2 Scott missed a chance for a perfect ending to 2013 when he bogeyed the final hole of last year’s Open at Royal Sydney, with McIlroy holing a giant birdie putt to win.

They will return for a rematch in Sydney next week – after Queenslander Scott defends his Australian Masters at Melbourne’s Metropolitan course starting on Thursday.

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Scott, the 2013 US Masters champion, is gunning to become the first golfer to claim three successive Australian Masters gold jackets, even topping his childhood idol Greg Norman, who won six but never more than two in a row.

“It’s pretty easy for me to concentrate this week,” Scott said after the pro-am round.

“I’ve got a lot on the line and I can make my own little bit of history in the Australian Masters and hopefully win three in a row and that’s where my head’s at.

“If I do that it will only put me in better shape for next week so I’m only thinking about this tournament and will have to deal with Rory and all the other guys next week.

“I’ve still got a thorn in my side about the Australian Open last year so it will be fun to have another crack at that.”

Scott flew to Melbourne last week for an extra round at Metropolitan on Melbourne’s famed sand-belt.

He said he’d only played the course about 10 times.

“I certainly feel like I’ve prepared well and I’d love to keep this good run going.

“I need to get my head around Metropolitan pretty quickly.”

As he did late last year, Scott is playing all of Australia’s big three tournaments – the Masters, Open and Australian PGA Championship.

AAP