ARDMORE, Pa. -- Adam Scott can understand why so many people thought he would have a hard time getting over his epic collapse in the British Open. They didnt understand his master plan of trying to get better instead of just trying to get better results. Ernie Els walked away from Royal Lytham & St. Annes with a silver claret jug. Scott walked away believing he finally was capable of winning a major, and it wasnt just a pep talk to soothe the shock over losing a four-shot lead with four holes to play. "I think if I sat there and watched someone else do what I did, it would have been devastating," Scott said Monday. "Its maybe more apparent to me now that you were all surprised that I wasnt just shattered. But honestly, thats not how I felt." In a decision that reshaped his career, Scott decided two years ago to play a limited schedule and practice smarter so that he would be ready for the biggest events. That Sunday afternoon at the British Open, despite the ugly finish, showed him he was on the right track. He promised that day the next time -- and he was certain there would be a next time -- he would finish the job. Scotts story had a happy ending. At his hideaway in the Bahamas, the Australian starts each day by slipping on the green jacket he won at Augusta National two months ago, when he made a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole and then another birdie in the rain on the second playoff hole to win the Masters. Except that Scott doesnt see this as the end. He is among the favourites when the U.S. Open begins Thursday at Merion, a course that was soaked by more rain Monday. Scott will be part of the feature group the opening two rounds, playing alongside Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy -- Nos. 1, 2 and 3 in the world ranking. Scott has been part of this routine before. The first time the USGA put together the top three players in the world was at Torrey Pines in 2008 -- Woods and San Diego native Mickelson at 1 and 2, and Scott feeling very much out of place. "I think anyone would have felt like the third wheel that week," Scott said. "Remembering back to Torrey Pines, the hype was enormous around that pairing. There was so much talk about it being Phils hometown and Tiger dominating Torrey for years. It was an experience Ill never forget. Ive never seen that many people on a Thursday morning on the first tee. It was a great atmosphere." And now? "Im probably also the third wheel this week, as well," Scott said with a laugh. Maybe not. Woods still drives the show in golf, already a four-time winner on tour this year as he tries to end his five-year drought in the majors. McIlroy, a major champion each of the last two years, is in one of his slumps and has yet to win this year. Scott, meanwhile, is trying to join some elite company. Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Ben Hogan are the only players in the last 60 years to have won the Masters and U.S. Open in the same season. And while every Masters champion has that opportunity, Scott is good enough to make the quest realistic. "I cant lie to you -- I do feel a lot better coming here, even discussing that kind of thing," Scott said. "Its a good feeling to come here to know that Ive achieved that. Ive got my first major. And my sights are definitely set on trying to win more." The biggest star could be Merion, hosting the U.S. Open for the first time since 1981. And the course at the moment is sharing the stage with Mother Nature. Merion received more than 3 inches of rain on Friday, which left it unplayable Saturday. Even as players were getting started Monday morning, more sheets of rain began to fall. Some of the bunkers were flooded, and the course was closed until 11 a.m. A little more than three hours later, the rain returned. The only activity on the course was workers using squeegees to remove small pools of water from the greens and some fairways. The thick rough was wet, mangled and muddied. Even as players tried a third time to practice, dark clouds loomed and more rain was on the way. Woods returned to hit pitch shots from short of the 18th green. There wasnt much work to get in. Scott had wanted to play seven rounds at Merion leading to the U.S. Open, so he was glad he showed up a week ago. "Ive had three full rounds and thats taken my time trying to figure everything out," Scott said. "I think Ive got a pretty good idea where Im going to try to go. Obviously with it being a little soft, it becomes a little more simple than what it was. The ball is just going to stop where it lands. So if youre accurate, youll be fine." The change in Scott came early in the 2011 season, when he was frustrated with the direction of his game, especially in the majors. Even though he reached as high as No. 3 in the world, he never seriously challenged in the Grand Slam events. He huddled with his swing coach and longtime friend Brad Malone and mapped out a plan. "He has been so influential in so many decisions of mine, and I think its been helpful because he knows me well as a person as well as knowing my golf swing very well," Scott said. "He could see the frustration, so he just essentially eliminated things that frustrated me and made everything a positive. Just set things up so golf was incredibly enjoyable for me and I was getting better all the time." Scott paid more attention to improving than his scores. He was more frustrated by his runner-up finish in the 2011 Masters than his meltdown at Royal Lytham because he controlled the tournament for 68 holes in the British Open. And if Angel Cabrera had chipped in on the first playoff hole to win the Masters? "Theyre tough pills to swallow, but thats golf," Scott said. "Just because you get close once doesnt mean youre going to get given one. And that was something that I was very conscious of the last four holes at Augusta. I stood there on the 15th fairway and said, Youre two back and no one is going to give this to you today. Youre going to have to something. Youre owed nothing in golf. You really just have to go and get it." Bernie Kosar Jersey . Newcastle dominated in the early stages but City weathered the storm and then raised its game in extra time. Negredo broke the deadlock from close range after a simple move in the 99th minute before Dzeko took the ball round goalkeeper Tim Krul to seal the victory in the 105th. Joel Bitonio Jersey . For the Wild it was their first win of the season and they now have a record of 1-1-2 while the Jets fall to 2-2. Jets start a six game home stand Friday with another divisional game, home to the Dallas Stars. http://www.cheapbrownsjerseyssale.com/?tag=jc-tretter-jersey-sale . 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SEATTLE -- Three plays were all it took for Dallas to get yet another injury scare surrounding Tony Romo.The quarterback lasted just 90 seconds into the Cowboys 27-17 preseason loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night before leaving with what appeared at first to be a potentially significant injury, but ended up being minor.Romo was tackled from behind by Seattles Cliff Avril on the third play from scrimmage as Romo scrambled from the pocket.He immediately grabbed at his back, crumpled on the field while trainers sprinted from the Dallas sideline and images of Romos injury problems from last year immediately flashed to mind.Turned out it was all just a scare. Romo walked off the field without assistance, threw passes on the sideline and lobbied for a return to the game. Dallas coach Jason Garrett opted to play it safe and Romo donned a baseball hat as a spectator the rest of the night.That was a perfect timed situation. I was going into the slide and he obviously caught me from behind, Romo said.In a weird way I feel good about the fact that was probably as tough of a hit I took on the back as Ive had in the last five years. In that regard I feel very lucky that it could hold up and keep going.Cowboys owner Jerry Jones immediately felt the anxiety, but said there should be no issue with Romo being ready for Week 1. Romo said his back felt fine other than typical soreness.I just think everyone had a scare, Jones said. And he was not hurt. He said he wasnt hurt. He wanted to go back in. He could have gone back in and played but I praise Jason. It was his decision.Avril said he checked with some Dallas players to make sure Romo was OK.I thought he was going to try to throw it so I tried to swipe down and get his arm but I guess the force just, whatever, messed his back up. ... Im never in the business of trying to hurt anybody, Avril said.What Romo saw from the sideline was an impressive initial flash from rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott and a solid performance by backup QB Dak Prescott against one of the top defenses in the NFL.Elliott rushed for 48 yards on seven carries, including a 13-yard run where he knocked Seattle safety Kam Chancellor backward.Prescott was solid playing against most of Seattles starting defense, finishing 17 of 23 for 116 yards, including a 17-yard TD pass that Jason Witten snatched away from K.dddddddddddd.J. Wright.I think I adjusted really well, Elliott said. It makes my job easier when I play behind that great offensive line. I can only think of one run where someone tackled me that wasnt on the second level.Russell Wilson and Seattles No. 1 offense played into the second half, scoring on four of its final five possessions including a pair of TD tosses by Wilson.He found Paul Richardson on a perfectly placed 9-yard crossing route in the second quarter, then improvised, spun, scrambled and hit Tyler Lockett on a 9-yard strike midway through the third quarter on his final play.Wilson finished 16 of 21 for 192 yards, while Christine Michael averaged 8.3 yards per carry as Seattle got its running game going in the second half.Christine looked great tonight, I really thought he looked like a beautiful runner out there, hitting it and making really decisive cuts and stuff that got him in the secondary, Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. Theres no reason to think otherwise, hes going to be like that for us.ROOKIE WATCHCowboys: Prescott is 39 of 50 for 454 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions in his three preseason games. I was ready to go at any point, Prescott said.Seahawks: Third-round pick C.J. Prosise got his first action of the preseason after being slowed by a hamstring injury. Prosise rushed for 23 yards on four carries and has been viewed as Seattles best third-down option.CLOSER TO RETURNINGSeahawks TE Jimmy Graham did not play, but went through a full pregame workout and team warmups as he continues his recovery from a major knee injury.INJURY REPORTSeahawks: WR/TE Tanner McEvoy suffered a minor groin injury in the second half. ... CB Marcus Burley missed the game due to a groin injury.QUOTABLEIt felt great to finally get out there in a full speed game against somebody thats not our own team. It was great to get behind that offensive line, get that game feel, get my first real reps as a pro football player, Elliott said.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap Adidas Hockey Jerseys Wholesale College Jerseys Cheap Nike Basketball Jerseys Cheap Football Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Baseball Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Jerseys From China Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Nike NBA Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Soccer Jerseys China Cheap NCAA Jerseys China Stitched NFL Jerseys Cheap Custom Jerseys China Cheap Basketball Jerseys Authentic NFL Jerseys China Cheap College Jerseys Wholesale Football Jerseys ' ' '