New year's resolution: Adam Scott is hoping for some better form in 2015. Photo: Getty Images

After a summer of slow starts and near misses, Adam Scott hopes to use his defence of the Australian PGA Championship as a springboard into 2015 as the world No. 3 targets more majors and another green jacket.

Scott considers the PGA, to be played from Thursday at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast, as a winnable "home game" before he takes a six-to-eight week break over the Christmas period, which he will spend with family and friends at nearby Sanctuary Cove.

It will be a welcome departure from the pressure of tournament golf after a season in which he reached No. 1 in late May, only to be overhauled by current top dog Rory McIlroy in August and then later by Swede Henrik Stenson.

Finishing tied for second in the Australian Masters, followed by a fifth at the Open, has left Scott motivated to end his Australian jaunt on a high note after a pair of performances in which he was tardy out of the blocks and forced to chase down the stretch.

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"I'm really looking forward to the week. It's kind of a home game for me," Scott said. "I haven't achieved exactly what I wanted the last couple of starts down here in Australia. A title always feels good and would give me a little confidence boost going into next year.

"I've played well but I've got off to such poor starts. When you're off to a slow start, the pressure's on. You can't make mistakes for the next three days."

Scott has hardly found himself in a form crisis but has seen what an uplifting end to the year can do for confidence, with McIlroy the perfect illustration.

The Northern Irishman had a torrid 2013 before closing it out with a win, over Scott, in the Australian Open at Royal Sydney. He would go on to produce an astounding 2014 campaign that included a pair of majors (British Open, PGA Championship) and a World Golf Championship victory, as well as cementing his place as the best player in the game.

Scott won at Royal Pines last year but like the rest of the 2014 field, must contend with a course that has been completely reshaped over the front nine by designer Graham Marsh, as well as draining Queensland humidity and the prospect of fierce storms, which have savaged the region over the past fortnight.

The rough, too, has been a talking point. Fellow Australian Steven Bowditch was hopeful the grounds staff might be motivated to give it a quick trim before the early tee times on Thursday or risk the prospect of players returning scores in triple figures.

Scott wasn't that pessimistic but feared it was literally growing by the inch as he had his press conference, given the prevailing weather conditions.

"Certainly, the front nine, the rough has grown and it's probably growing as we speak with the rain and the sunshine out now. It's severe and to be avoided. There's plenty of fairway to hit at out there, though. It's good to see a bit of rough out there, especially as conditions have got a bit soft," Scott said.

Time away from the spotlight was rare for Scott on his journey home last summer. With relentless good nature he paraded his US Masters jacket up and down the east coast. This time, the surf beckons, as does the chance to finally switch off, then fine tune aspects of his game before a return and a fresh assault on the big four, starting with Augusta in April.

"I don't need to get away from the golf course but maybe the tournaments. I can see myself playing a fair bit of golf with my mates and my mum and dad when I'm home," Scott said. "But certainly [there will be] a bit of a mental break from competition and getting myself ready for what I want to do next year. I'll use the time wisely."

Scott will start an overwhelming favourite to defend the Joe Kirkwood Cup, with Marc Leishman, John Senden, Brendon De Jonge (Zimbabwe) and Boo Weekley (US) among others given a chance to contend.