The big names will still feel the heat

The Blue Canyon Country Club sizzles under a scorching sun on Thailand's biggest island, and that's the way world number four Adam Scott likes it.

The Australian is hoping the heat can help him cut through a top-class field to win this week's €2.20 million Johnnie Walker Classic.

"I enjoy coming and playing here and I like the challenge of a different style of golf course, the different grasses, the heat," Scott said on the eve of the event tri-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia. "I think (it is) getting back to my roots a little bit with the heat."

Scott will have his work cut out over the next four days with the likes of Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Paul Casey and Colin Montgomerie chasing the €310,000 first prize.

There are three Irish in the field: Damien McGrane, Graeme McDowell and Peter Lawrie.

"Goal? I came here to win the tournament, obviously," said the 26-year-old Australian. "The challenge is getting the ball to the right spots, and the greens are rolling well. I think I'm going to make some putts out there."

World number six Els set slightly less lofty goals.

"A win would be great, but I'd just like to play some decent golf, get decent scores under my belt," said the South African.

World number 20 Montgomerie was in upbeat mood and aiming to improve his ranking.

"I'm hitting the ball well and I'm confident," said the 43-year-old Scot. "I would like to get back into the top 10 in the world and I feel that's not so far away."

Montgomerie has been encouraged by his start to the year and was pleased with his performance against Johan Edfors on the first day at the Matchplay Championship in Arizona before losing to Casey.

And despite being the elder statesman of a game dominated by youngsters and rising stars, he believes he can return to winning ways after last winning a title at the Hong Kong Open in December 2005.

"I started the year off well and I'm in the top 20, and I really feel still that I'm able to get it back in the top 10. I don't think that I'm thinking about over-achieving to get to that degree at 43-years-old.

"I've got to win a couple of tournaments at least, obviously, to do that and possibly win in America. But I'm playing quite well and I'm confident.

"I set the odd goal and one is to improve.

"I had one bad round against Paul Casey in the Accenture Matchplay. I didn't play well at all, but the first round I was very encouraged."

Ryder Cup team-mate Casey, believes the Scot will achieve his goal and re-join the world's elite.

"When Monty puts his mind to it, he produces phenomenal golf on various occasions.

"If he feels like he's got something to prove, if there's a crowd, whatever it might be, you tell Monty he can't do something, he will go and do it just to prove you wrong.

"If Monty wants to get back in the top 10, I firmly believe he can get there."

On the US Tour this week, Padraig Harrington is competing in the Honda Classic at the PGA National Resort and Spa champion course, at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

The Dubliner will partner Jim Furyk in the opening rounds.

Meanwhile, Jack Nicklaus has given his initial reaction to golf's proposed rule changes, and it does not make happy reading for the governing bodies.

"It's a start, I suppose, but it's the chair off the Titanic, I guess," said Nicklaus when asked about the plan to alter grooves in clubs to make it harder to control the ball from the rough and put more of a premium on driving accuracy.

Nicklaus, speaking at a press conference to promote September's Presidents Cup in Canada between the US and an International side captained by Gary Player, has long been in favour of a reduction in the distance a ball flies.

"The average golfer now has a golf ball that is so high tech and clubs that are so high tech that they may hit the ball on the face of the golf club maybe one out of 10 shots.

"When they hit that one out of 10 shots on the face they say 'Wow, look how far that goes' and they love it. But on the other nine shots the ball goes much shorter than it would have if they didn't have such a high-tech piece of equipment or ball.

"Part of this whole thing is to bring people in the game and keep them in the game. And if you have a golf ball that you don't know whether you're going to hit it on the face or not and there's 50 yards of difference between a good shot and a bad shot, it's hard to learn how to play golf.

"I'd love to see the game be brought together for the average golfer and the pros. Right now all they advertise on television is 'play what the pros play'.

"Well, they can't play it - they just don't have the clubhead speed to play it."