By Darren Walton
SYDNEY, Dec 1 AAP – Adam Scott is clinging to a one-stroke lead over Rory McIlroy as the Australian Open heads for a thrilling climax at Royal Sydney Golf Club.
McIlroy went birdie, eagle, birdie on the sixth, seventh and eighth holes to wipe away Scott’s four-shot overnight advantage before Australia’s Triple Crown hopeful responded with a pressure birdie on the par-4 ninth.
Scott walked to the 10th tee at 17-under-par for the championship following his front-nine of one-under, with McIlroy at 16-under at the turn after going four-under through the first nine holes.
The Northern Irishman’s charge put Scott’s quest for Australian golf’s coveted Triple Crown in serious jeopardy.
Having already won the Australian Masters and Australian PGA championships, Scott is bidding to join Robert Allenby as the only player to complete a summer sweep of the big three Australian tournaments.
Starting the final round with a four-stroke buffer, Scott dropped a shot at the par-4 first hole when he drove into a greenside bunker, blasted his approach long and was unable to get up and down for par.
Suddenly his lead was only three, but it was quickly back to four when he knocked his second shot on the par-5 second to 15 foot and safely two-putted for birdie.
McIlroy lamented lipping out for birdie on the par-3 third and Scott was equally disappointed at failing to convert from six feet at the fourth.
The Northern Irishman finally picked up his first birdie at the par-4 sixth, reducing the deficit to three when Scott could only par.
Scott’s lead had all but evaporated after McIlroy’s brilliant eagle at the par-5 seventh – and it was gone when McIlroy drained a 10-footer for birdie in the par-4 eighth and Scott lipped out from six feet.
But Scott held his nerve to drain an eight-footer on nine to regain his outright lead.
Former champion John Senden edged to within five strokes of Scott after collecting six birdies in his first 12 holes.
Senden was sharing third spot at 11-under through 15 holes, with Rhein Gibson also six shots back with seven holes of his tournament remaining.
