Playing catch-up, Rory McIlroy will be looking to make a hot start in his bold bid to deny Adam Scott Australian golf’s Triple Crown on Sunday.
McIlroy enters the final round of the Australian Open four shots adrift of Scott, with the tournament’s two headline acts well clear of the field and set to draw a massive gallery at Royal Sydney.
Scott is confident of closing the deal to add the Stonehaven Cup to his Australian Masters and Australian PGA trophies already hoisted this summer, but McIlroy insists he’s capable of overturning a four-shot deficit.
“On this golf course there can be a lot of two-shot swings,” the Irishman said.
“Even the first couple of holes, if someone makes a couple of pars and somebody gets off to a flying start and makes a birdie and an eagle, you’re right back in it.
“There are plenty of chances out there; it’s just a matter of taking the opportunities when they come.
“I don’t think I should really be doing anything different. I don’t think I should be changing my game plan in any way.
“Everyone knows what the birdie-able holes are out there and it’s just about trying to take your chances on those and hopefully he doesn’t take all his chances on those ones too.”
Scott says he can’t really believe he has the chance to emulate Robert Allenby’s 2005 sweep of Australia’s three majors.
“To have this opportunity is a bit unreal,” he said after surging to 16 under par for the championship with a four-under 68 on Saturday.
“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.”
Matt Jones, Richard Green and Max McCardle share third spot at eight-under, a distant eight shots behind Scott.
Former champion Stuart Appleby is in a four-way tie for sixth at seven-under with Nathan Holman, Scott Arnold and Leigh McKechnie.
Jason Day, Ashley Hall, Rhein Gibson and Bryden Macpherson are tied 10th at six-under and the only other players within 10 strokes of Scott.
Scott and McIlroy tee off just before 1pm AEST.
