July 22, 2012
2012 British Open : Good Luck, Adam
“If I play a solid round of golf tomorrow, it will be very hard for the others to beat me, and that’s all I’m thinking about.”–Adam Scott
Adam Scott will take a four-stroke lead into the final round of the Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes after shooting a two-under par 68 on Saturday.
The 32-year-old finished on 11-under par, four clear of overnight leader Brandt Snedeker, who struggled to a 73 and Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell (67) with Tiger Woods lurking a shot further back on six-under par.
In benign conditions on the Lancashire coast, Scott put together a composed round, picking up two birdies on the opening nine before bagging another at the par-five 11th.
A bogey at the 13th checked his progress but the Australian, who is bidding to win his first major championship, came home in even par — aided by a stunning bunker shot at the 17th.
“A four shot lead doesn’t seem to be very much this year on any golf tournament that I’ve watched. That doesn’t mean a lot,” Scott said.
“The good part is if I play a solid round of golf tomorrow, it will be very hard
for the others to beat me, and that’s all I’m thinking about,” he added.
Snedeker, who hadn’t dropped a shot in the opening 36 holes, saw shots slip away in a hurry on Saturday, arriving at the turn three-over par for his round.
Further shots went at the 11th and 14th before two birdies in the closing three holes dragged the 31-year-old back into contention.
Woods who is bidding to win a 15th major title, recovered from a bogey, par, bogey start to finish with an even-par 70.
“I turned it around. I got off to an awful start and battled back and got myself right back in the mix again going into tomorrow, and I’m right there,” Woods said.
“I’m five back. So Adam is in a great spot right now, he’s got a four shot lead and he’s playing really well. He’s going for his first major title. So he’s in a very good spot,” the 14-time major champion said.
America’s Zach Johnson’s round of 66 was the lowest of the day and lifted him to joint fifth alongside South Africa’s Ernie Els (68) on five-under par, while 22-year-old Dane, Thorbjorn Olesen is four-under after a one-over 71.
Reigning Masters champion Bubba Watson is currently locked in a three-way tie for 10th place with former Open winner’s Louis Oosthuizen and Mark Calcavecchia on two-under par.
World number one Luke Donald is a shot further back after a one-over par 71.Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy continued his stuttering form of late, carding a three-over 73 to leave him tied for 64th on five-over par while Scotland’s Martin Laird had a day to forget.
The 29-year-old started the day one-under par, but slumped to a 12-over par 82 leaving him in last place, one shot behind America’s John Daly who struggled to a 77.
Adam Scott will win if he can overcome the usual Sunday pressure. So far, he has played solid and precision golf. But golf being golf, Round 4 will be a pressure packed closing game for Adam. Tiger Woods, Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell and Brandt Snedeker of the United States are strong contenders and so are a few others down the line.–Din Merican
That is because Adam Scott has not played against Adam Teloq yet.
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Obviously, Mr. Bean, you have not played golf to appreciate what Adam Scott at Royal Lytham & St Annes had to do over three rounds. This links course has 200+ deep bunkers and it takes a great skill to avoid them or when in them to get out near the pin. This championship is now Adam’s to lose with Tiger and gang lurking.–Din Merican
I know how to put the ball in the hole.
…says someone who’s never had to stand over a six foot sliding putt on a championship-fast green. There are some courses in Malaysia where my hands literally shake on the greens – I can’t imagine what it would be like putting in the majors.