Aussie Open: Scott is leader

Associated Press

SYDNEY — Adam Scott shot a 4-under 68 Saturday to take a four-shot lead over Rory McIlroy heading into the final round of the Australian Open and move closer to a Australian triple crown.

Scott is trying to match Robert Allenby’s 2005 accomplishment of winning the Open, Australian Masters and Australian PGA in succession. Scott also won the Masters at Augusta in April.

Scott shot a course record 62 on the first day and followed with a second-round 70. Saturday’s round of six birdies and two bogeys moved him to 16-under 200 for the tournament.

McIlroy started the day two shots behind Scott and lost ground with a bogey and double-bogey against five birdies, finishing with a 70. McIlroy is vying for his first victory of the year.

Australians Richard Green, Matthew Jones and Max McCardle shared third place at 8 under, eight shots off the pace.

Scott’s round on Saturday means he is now 51 under par for his three tournaments in Australia this year.

“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.

“Before this month started, I hadn’t won two tournaments in a row ever. 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 hole and then watching McIlroy miss a birdie putt from closer range to increase the Australian’s lead.

“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.

“I’m going to have to do a couple of things better than I did today. 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 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, who partnered with Scott to win the World Cup of golf for Australia last week, had the day’s equal-best round of 66 to briefly take the clubhouse lead but eventually that was only good for a tie for 10th.

MALELANE, South Africa — Charl Schwartzel opened a two-shot lead after three rounds at the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

The defending champion shot a 5-under 67 on Saturday to move to 13 under and pull away from England’s Richard Finch at Leopard Creek. Victor Riu of France was another shot back at 10 under.

Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters champion, led after three rounds at the South African Open last weekend before slipping up on the final day. He carded five birdies and no bogeys to lead outright with a round to play at the Alfred Dunhill, which he won by a dominant 12 shots a year ago for his last European Tour win and only victory on the circuit since the triumph at the 2011 Masters.

He had five birdies and no bogeys to take the lead. Schwartzel’s co-overnight leader, Morten Orum Madsen, shot a 7-over 79.

After expressing his displeasure with the second-round pin placements at the Alfred Dunhill, Schwartzel avoided any slipups in his third round and has not dropped a shot since the 10th hole of his opening round.

“If I had really putted well today it could have been very low,” Schwartzel said. “The good thing is that I know it’s there. It very easily could have been low but it was still a solid round of golf and this is still a tough golf course.”

Finch and Riu also put themselves into contention with 5-under 67s, with Finch also avoiding any dropped shots and adding five birdies. Riu had six birdies and just a single drop on No. 18.

Frenchman Romain Wattel is fourth on 9 under and Denmark’s Soren Hansen fifth on 8 under.

South African Hennie Otto — second behind Madsen in the new 2014 Race to Dubai standings — is tied for sixth with England’s Ross Fisher on 7 under, five back from Schwartzel.