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Aaron Baddeley has been energised by best mate Bubba Watson's Masters win at just the right time.
Aaron Baddeley has been energised by best mate Bubba Watson's US Masters win at just the right time.
As Watson created history at Augusta National last Sunday, one of the first to be there to congratulate him on the second play-off hole was close friend Baddeley.
The Victorian hadn't claimed the green jacket for himself but watched "probably the next best thing" as Watson produced a stunning hooked wedge shot from the trees to set up victory.
"I feel energised and a bit inspired and it makes you want to keep working harder to achieve things like that," Baddeley said ahead of this week's RBC Heritage event.
"Bubba is my best mate out here on Tour and to see him win and how much it meant to him, it was just awesome."
The boost is timely as Baddeley returns to Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, South Carolina, his most successful venue on Tour and site of his first of three US PGA Tour victories.
The 31-year-old won here in 2006 and since hasn't finished any worse than a tie for 22nd including a further runner-up finish in 2008.
"I feel like I play well here every year so I have a lot of great memories here," Baddeley said of the famed Harbour Town.
"I have a lot of good thoughts about how to play the course and especially as it was my first win it brings a lot of good memories back.
"I feel like I'm always there or thereabouts with a chance on the weekend and I am hoping I can get back in that position again."
Baddeley says it is his ability to shape the ball both ways, similar to Watson if not to the same degree, which gives him an edge.
"I think the tightness of the course helps my focus but also the ability I have to shape shots both ways helps," Baddeley explains.
"Bubba likes to shape the ball and he moves it a long way. His ability to hit a driver with 50 yards of fade and still hit it 330, well there aren't many people who can do it.
"But not everybody can hit both a fade and draw with control either and I feel like I can play it both ways and I enjoy having to be able to hit it high and low as well.
"I enjoy the fun of the different shots you have to hit around this golf course."
Baddeley is very keen to bounce back from his play at the Masters.
Having made it past his initial goal of making the cut at Augusta National, Baddeley found himself tied fifth after five holes on Saturday, right in the mix.
But his third round unravelled a little from there and despite getting back to within four shots on the back nine, he played his last five holes in five-over par to fall out of contention.
He eventually finished in a tie for 40th but will take plenty of experience from the event, identifying a few personal keys he believes will help going forward.
"There are a lot of positives to come out of last week even though I didn't finish off the round on Saturday as well as I wanted to," he said.
Geoff Ogilvy, Marc Leishman, Greg Chalmers, Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby and Nick O'Hern round out the Australian tilt.
