Triple treat alive
ADAM Scott can scarcely believe he is poised to complete the Triple Crown of Australian golf after jumping out to a four-stroke lead over the Australian Open field with an ice cool third-round 68 at Royal Sydney.
Scott’s much-hyped head-to-head duel with Rory McIlroy failed to deliver any real fireworks yesterday as the Masters champion tightened his grip on the championship with another six birdies.
After starting the third round two shots adrift of Scott, McIlroy is now four back at 12-under following a rollercoaster 70.
The tournament’s headline acts will again face off in the final group today today, with the Open seemingly now a two-man affair.
Matt Jones is outright third but eight shots off the pace.
‘‘ Obviously to win my national championship tomorrow and then also win the three events down here is an unbelievable spot to be in,’’ Scott said. ‘‘If you’d told me that a month ago, I wouldn’t have believed you. things better than I did today, I think, but as long as the eye stays in with the putter, I should be able to hang on.
‘‘To finish it off tomorrow would be an incredible way to end the year.’’
McIlroy conceded missing his short birdie attempt at the 18th hurt. ‘‘It was big,’’ he said. ‘‘It would have been nice to birdie that to make the gap from four to three. Obviously I’ve got a tough job onmyhands to catch Adam.’’
Richard Green (73) and Max McCardle (69) are equal fourth, one stroke behind Jones (72) but a distant nine in arrears of Scott.
Former champion Stuart Appleby is in a four-way tie for sixth at sevenunder with Nathan Holman (68), Scott Arnold (69) and Leigh McKechnie (71).
Jason Day fired the day’s equal-best round of 66 to climb to six-under and give himself a remote chance of running Scott down with a course-record round on Sunday.
‘‘It’s a long shot but, if I can go out tomorrow and the leaders are not too far away and I shoot a low one, maybe I can catch them,’’ Day said.
Three amateurs are in the top 20 entering the final round, headed by 18-year-old Anthony Murdaca (66).