OPEN WRAP: Desperate Scott keeps his hopes alive

BY BRENDAN JAMES at THE AUSTRALIAN GC

Golf, as any golfer will tell you, is as fickle as the winds that have swirled across The Australian course during the past three days.

Adam Scott had all but conceded his Emirates Australian Open campaign was over when he hit two “ordinary” shots on the 17^th hole of his third round, which resulted in a bogey that dropped him to one over and eight shots shy of the leader.

Seven days ago his driver was the villain in playing him out of the Australian Masters as he missed one fairway another on an uncharacteristically bad ball-striking afternoon.

But the club, that is now the longest in Scott’s arsenal, is back in favour with the Queenslander after some work on practice tee this week at Kensington.

Adam Scott says his game is coming together and will need a really low final round to be in contention.
PHOTO: Matt King/Getty Images.

When Scott smashed his drive down the right half of the 18th fairway, there was a glimmer of hope that his Open was not quite done. He was left with 197 yards to the flag. A steep downslope into the greenside lake was just a few metres right of the cup, which was cut on a small peninsula towards the front right of the putting surface. The small landing area around the hole ensured only the bravest, foolhardy or – in Scott’s case – the most desperate would attempt to get their second shot close for an eagle attempt.

For Scott, the decision to take dead aim came after a very brief discussion with caddie Steve Williams. He took his 5-iron from the bag, made one last look at the wind and let rip.

“I was probably aiming just a couple of yards left of the pin and the shot shape was to just kind of not cut it but hold it really straight,” the World No.12 said. “It was a very hard right to left wind. There’s not a lot of room to move on the front of that green. If it starts going left it’s in the left bunker and obviously if it goes right, it’s water.

“But I struck it nice, it just came out probably four yards right of where I really imagined it and it stayed right there, but I knew I hit it good, so I was just hoping it was going to get up.”

It got up, and his Titleist Pro V1x sat soft like it was landing on warm butter – on a day when even wedge shots were bounding through the back of the firm bent grass greens – and came to rest 12 feet from the cup.

Standing back down the fairway, Scott looked at Williams with a smile and a hint of a sigh ...  perhaps in relief.

“If it splashes, my tournament’s over realistically,” confessed Scott, who took advantage of the brave shot by rolling the putt in for an eagle and a third round 68. “Even if I up and down it for a par, starting tomorrow one over, unless they come way, way back I’m pretty much done so like I said, it was a good shot, maybe a little lucky but took advantage of it.

“I had just to hit a good drive. I wanted to at least give myself a look at going for the green and I hit a nice drive. It’s a scary shot there today to go for it, even with a 5-iron because like I said, there’s just not a lot of margin for error when the pin’s on the front peninsula.”

Scott's final approach was gutsy, tinged with a spot of desperation.
PHOTO: Matt King/Getty Images.

Scott’s 68, on a day when only 15 players broke par, saw him climb nearly 25 places on the leaderboard and still with an outside chance of winning a second Stonehaven Cup. While his ball-striking has gradually improved during the past three days, his scrambling for par has kept him buoyant that he can figure in the final result.

“Even though I didn’t hit great shots all day, my scrambling was 10 out of 10, that’s for sure and it’s hard to be too critical when you’ve got very demanding shots,” he said.

“I’m in a position where I had to not force the issue but I had to try and hit some fancier shots than you probably would if you were leading at that point and try and get it just that little bit closer because you’re not going to make 30 footers all day.

“You never know how they’re going to finish up but at least I clawed into red figures and start tomorrow hopeful of something special.”

He’ll be coming from nine shots behind leader Matt Jones and six adrift of World No.1 Jordan Spieth, but if this Championship has proven in its 100 editions, anything is possible on the final day with the Stonehaven Cup on the line.