Scott remains on course for Australian triple crown
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Adam Scott shot a 4-under 68 yesterday to take a four-shot lead over Rory McIlroy heading into the final round of the Australian Open and move closer to a rare Australian triple crown.
Scott is trying to match Robert Allenby’s 2005 accomplishment of winning the Open, Australian Masters and Australian PGA in quick succession.
Scott followed his course-record 62 on the first day with a second-round 70 and yesterday’s round which comprised six birdies and two bogeys, moving to 16-under 200 for the tournament.
McIlroy started the day two shots behind Scott but lost ground with a bogey and double-bogey against five birdies, finishing with a round of 70.
Australians Richard Green, Matthew Jones and Max McCardle shared third place at 8-under, eight shots off the pace.
Scott’s round yesterday means he is now 51 under par for his three tournaments in Australia this summer. “To win my national championship tomorrow and then also win the three events down here is an unbelievable spot to be in,” he said. “If you’d told me that a month ago, I wouldn’t have believed you.
“Before this month started, I hadn’t won two tournaments in a row ever,” the US Masters champion said. “So to have this opportunity is a bit unreal.”
Scott said he would sleep easier after holing a six-foot birdie putt on the last, then watching McIlroy miss a birdie putt from closer range, producing a two-stroke swing that gave the local a pronounced advantage.
“One round away and a lot can happen,” he said. “(There’s) a phenomenon behind me as well so I’m sure he’s going to throw plenty at me tomorrow.”
McIlroy said his missed birdie chance on 18 had been costly. “It was big,” he said. “It would have been nice to birdie that to make the gap from four to three.”
Jason Day, with whom Scott won the World Cup of Golf for Australia last week, fired the day’s equal-best round of 66 to briefly take the clubhouse lead but eventually that was scaled back to a tie for 10th.
In Jakarta, Gaganjeet Bhullar recovered from a shaky start with a 2-under 69 to share the third round lead with Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond at the Indonesia Open yesterday.
The Indian, ranked sixth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, opened with a double bogey but steadied ship with his solid ball striking as he joined Jazz, who shot a 68, atop the leaderboard on 13-under 200.
Thai star Thongchai Jaidee, a three-time Order of Merit winner, birdied the last for 68 to remain in hot pursuit of his 14th Asian Tour title as he trails the leaders by two shots.
Thaworn Wiratchant, winner here in 2005, was a further three shots back after a 69 while Jyoti Randhawa of India returned with a superb 65, the best round of the day, to share fifth position alongside local hope Rory Hie and Thai Prom Meesawat.
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