Adam Scott increases advantage over Rory McIlroy as duo pull clear of field at Australian

Adam Scott stretched his lead to four shots ahead of the final round of the Australian Open with Rory McIlroy his only real challenger remaining after a big day at the Royal Sydney Golf Club.

Scott blotted his scorecard with two bogeys in a third round of 68, but that compared well with the four he recorded on Friday after his blistering opening effort of 62.

A run of three birdies between the seventh and ninth ensured he remained the right side of par on the day, and helped him pull clear of McIlroy who ran into trouble early in the day, with a bogey on the fourth and a double bogey on the fifth, before recovering with four birdies between the seventh and 14th helping him to a round of 70.

That sees Scott stretch his overnight lead to four, but with McIlroy also increasing his grip on second place - four shots clear of Matthew Jones, Richard Green and Max McCardie in a three-way tie for third - it appears unlikely that Sunday's winner will come from anywhere other than the top two.

Of those three, only McCardie showed any real form in the third round, carding a 69 to move up while Jones had an eagle 72, late bogeys on the 17th and 18th helping to cancel out his eagle on the seventh, while a poor back nine saw Green sign for a 73.

Stuart Appleby moved up to a share of sixth with a round of 67 while Jason Day got himself into the top 10 with a 66, a mark equalled by Mark Brown and Anthony Murdaca on the day but not bettered.

Earlier this month Scott won the Australian PGA Championship and the Talisker Masters and chief executive officer of the PGA of Australia Brian Thorburn is delighted with Scott's achievements already this year.

Referring to not only his Australian PGA and Masters wins but also his World Cup of Golf title, Thorburn told www.pga.org.au: "What Adam has already achieved over the last four weeks is remarkable."

On Sunday Scott can make history if he claims the Australian golf triple crown, and Thorburn added: "It's already been a history-making year for the US Masters champion and tomorrow Adam has another chance to do what no other person has ever done.

"On behalf of all of Adam's fellow PGA and PGA Tour of Australasia Members I wish him the best of luck."

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Rory McIlroy has sympathy for Adam Scott after winning Australian Open

Rory McIlroy admitted to feeling a little guilty after snatching the Australian Open title from under Adam Scott's nose.

Scott was seeking a rare Australian triple crown, after winning the PGA and Masters titles, and he had been in front for just about the whole tournament at Royal Sydney.

But a couple of mistakes at the 72nd hole, combined with a McIlroy birdie, meant the Northern Irishman ended a year-long wait for a title.

He had started the day four strokes behind Scott and led for the only time when he holed his winning putt on the final green, Scott having been in command since opening with a round of 62.

"It's hard not to feel some sort of guilt in the way that I won it," said McIlroy, whose last win was in Dubai in November last year. 

"It's been a frustrating year but I've worked hard and it's been a process, trying to get back to winning golf tournaments, and it was nice to do that today. 

"I just sort of stayed patient, I knew that anything can happen on this golf course, if you just hit it into a tricky spot like Adam did on 18. 

"Luckily I was just able to make that putt at the end when I needed it. 

"It's a very prestigious tournament and I am honoured to have my name on the trophy. I'm sure there is a lot of proud people who watched that today."

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Rory McIlroy grabs Australian Open title on the final green

Rory McIlroy pipped Adam Scott to victory in the Australian Open to claim his first tournament victory of 2013.

Scott was leading by one shot with just the 72nd hole to play, but a bogey combined with a birdie from McIlroy denied him the chance to win the Australian 'Triple Crown'.

McIlroy trailed by four shots going into the final round with the pair going head-to-head on the final day at Royal Sydney, the rest of the field needing a miracle to get into contention.

Fourth round leaderboard

(Aus unless stated)

-18 Rory McIlroy (NI)

-17 A Scott

-11 J Senden

-9 R Gibson

-9 B Macpherson

-8 J Day

-8 M Jones

The former world No 1 made a big move on the seventh with an eagle and drew level with Scott when he birdied the eighth.

Scott edged ahead again but made a series of mistakes down the stretch, leaving McIlroy the chance to stay in touch.

Error

And he made a club selection error at the last, hitting his approach way over the green and failing to make par, leaving McIlroy with the chance to win a second Australian Open, a chance he took with aplomb.

"I am gutted, I felt like I never had a better chance to win the Australian Open," Scott said. "It was going to be a tough day, Rory made his move and I just couldn't get my putts in."

"Adam congratulated me on the green. It was hard not to feel some guilt in the way that I won it," said McIlroy.

"To be able to play your best golf when you need to, when you're under pressure, you can't ask for more. The perfect scenario was to achieve a win before the end of the season and thankfully I have done that."

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Alfred Dunhill Championship: Charl Schwartzel takes two-shot lead at Leopard Creek

Defending champion Charl Schwartzel took control of the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek on Saturday as he opened up a two-shot lead in the third round.

The man who won this event 12 months ago by an amazing 12 shots showed once again that he loves the track in his native South Africa and is again the man to beat going into Sunday's final round.

Former Masters champion Schwartzel went from a share of the lead to outright leader as he carded a five-under third round of 67 to move to 13-under for the tournament and lead Richard Finch by two shots.

Third round leaders:

(RSA unless stated)

-13 C Schwartzel

-11 R Finch (Eng)

-10 V Riu (Fra)

-9 R Wattel (Fra)

-8 S Hansen (Den)

Schwartzel started the day in a share of the lead with Denmark's Morten Orum Madsen, a player he lost out to in a final-round battle for the South African Open last week.

But while Madsen got off to a nightmare start with bogeys at the first two holes, Schwartzel birdied the par-five second and then made a potentially decisive move around the turn.

A superb approach to the eighth left the South African with a tap-in birdie and another followed from six feet on the ninth to be out in 32.

Birdies

Further birdies on the 12th and 13th took Schwartzel to 13 under par and a two-shot lead over England's Finch, who responded superbly with his 67 coming on the back of finishing the second bogey, bogey, double-bogey on Friday.

France's Victor Riu dropped a late shot but still recorded the third five-under round of 67 in the leading trio as he closed on ten-under to take sole possession of third place.

"I played a lot better today than the first two days," said Schwartzel. "I felt far more comfortable and I played a lot more aggressive - there were still a couple of holes I didn't feel that comfortable so just settled for pars to keep the scoreboard ticking over. 

"I gave myself a lot of chances but the greens very late in the afternoon have a few spikes marks and the ball is bouncing around a lot so it's hard to make a lot of putts. 

"I've got a two shot lead and today I kept the scoreboard ticking over and if I can do that tomorrow that will put the pressure on those chasing me so they'll have to earn the right to beat me."

Madsen had a nightmare day following his opening two bogeys - adding five more and one double against just two birdies in his seven-over round of 79 that dropped him back down to one-over for the event.

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Australian Open: Adam Scott closes on 'triple crown'; Rory McIlroy four behind

Adam Scott is four ahead of Rory McIlroy going into the final round of the Australian Open after a four-under 68 on Saturday.

Scott needs victory at Royal Sydney to complete his country's 'triple crown' having won the Australian PGA and Masters in recent weeks.

Starting the day two ahead of nearest challenger McIlroy, Scott moved clear with a front nine that featured four birdies, including three in a row from the seventh.

Third round leaderboard

(Aus unless stated)

-16 A Scott

-12 R McIlroy (NI)

-8 R Green

-8 M Jones

-8 M McCardle

He started the back nine with a bogey but picked up further shots at the 14th and 18th to get to 16-under-par overall.

"It's an exciting position to be in, obviously a great chance to win my national championship tomorrow," said Scott. 

"And then also win the three events down here which is an unbelievable spot to be in. If you'd told me a month ago, I wouldn't have believed you. 

"One round to go but a lot can happen. It's a phenomenon playing behind me and I'm sure he's going to throw plenty at me... but as long as the eye stays in with the putter, I think I should hold on."

Rallied

Northern Ireland's McIlroy, the former world No 1 without a tournament win in 2013, was five behind after a bogey at the fourth was followed by a double-bogey at the next.

But he rallied with four birdies and no bogeys during the remainder of a two-under 70 that left him on 12-under-par, although he did miss a short birdie putt at the 18th.

"I played a good back nine, it could have been a couple better, I felt I left a couple out there," said McIlroy.

On his chances of catching Scott on Sunday, he added: "(It's possible) on this golf course, where there can be a lot of two-shot swings and someone makes a couple of pars and someone gets off to a fast start and makes a birdie and an eagle and you're right back in it.

"There's plenty of chances out there and it's just a matter of taking your opportunities when they come."

The final round is set up for a head-to-head battle as McIlroy is four ahead of a trio of Australians sharing third place, Max McCardle (69), Matt Jones (72) and Richard Green (73).

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Golf-McIlroy overhauls Scott on last to end title wait

SYDNEY, - Rory McIlroy claimed his first title of the year at the Australian Open by a single shot on Sunday after home favourite Adam Scott bogeyed the final hole to lose a tournament he had dominated since the opening day.

McIlroy, who swallowed up Scott's four-shot overnight lead in the first eight holes, nervelessly sank a 10-foot birdie putt at the 18th to finish on 18-under-par for the tournament with a final round seven-under 66.

Scott, who was seeking a rare "triple crown" of Australian titles after winning the PGA and Masters, missed a string of chances over the back nine to extend his lead and held just a single-shot advantage heading to the 72nd hole.

After firing his approach over the back of the green, the world number two overcooked his chip and sent the ball racing back past the hole before coming up short with a 40-foot par putt to give McIlroy a chance he grasped with both hands.

"It's hard not to feel some sort of guilt in the way that I won it," said two-times major champion McIlroy, who had been facing a first winless season since 2008. 

"It's been a frustrating year but I've worked hard and it's been a process, trying to get back to winning golf tournaments, and it was nice to do that today."

In what emerged as a virtual matchplay contest, the pair played together over the final two rounds in front of packed galleries bathed in sunshine at the Royal Sydney Golf Club.

Scott, who had led from the first day of the tournament when he smashed the course record with a 10-under 62, finished with a 71 for second place on 17-under, six clear of John Senden (66) in third.

"I'm disappointed to make an error at the last and open the door for Rory," Scott said. 

"I was kind of trying to keep it closed all day the best I could. 

"Nothing was going my way on the greens today. I could have put this thing away I think early on if the putter was behaving how it should have..."

Bryden Mcpherson and Rhein Gibson, who both shot 69s to share fourth on nine-under, joined fellow Australian Senden in qualifying for next year's British Open at Hoylake.

BOGEY START

Scott had started the day with a three-putt bogey at the first but reclaimed the shot when he smashed a superb second shot from the fairway with a wood to set up a birdie at the second.

McIlroy missed a birdie putt at the third but took a stroke out of Scott's lead at the fifth when a sublime approach shot set him up for a birdie.

Another long and accurate iron shot at the par-five seventh gave him an eagle and when Scott missed a four-foot birdie putt, the lead was reduced to just one stroke.

McIlroy drew level when he sank a six-foot putt to pick up a shot at the eighth before Scott lipped out with his shorter birdie putt at the same hole.

The roles were reversed at the ninth, where McIlroy missed his birdie putt by less than an inch while Scott drained a six-footer to reach the turn a shot in front at 17-under.

The pair parred the next four holes and both had eagle chances at the 13th, with Scott coming closest when his first putt shaved the cup before tapping in to match McIlroy's birdie.

Scott had another chance to go two ahead after McIlroy found a bunker at the par-five 16th but the Australian three-putted from the front of the green to match the Northern Irishman's par.

Scott wasted another opportunity to pad his advantage to a couple of shots at the par-three 17th when he lipped out again following a brilliant tee shot, leaving McIlroy to take full advantage in a dramatic conclusion to an absorbing contest.

"I just sort of stayed patient, I knew that anything can happen on this golf course, if you just hit it into a tricky spot like Adam did on 18," McIlroy added. 

"Luckily I was just able to make that putt at the end when I needed it."

Scott said his final hole meltdown would not ruin a year in which he became the first Australian to win the U.S. Masters. 

"It's just the way golf is," the 33-year-old said. "I'm gutted. I felt like I never had a better chance to win the Aussie Open but it was tight the whole back nine. Rory played so good."

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Schwartzel in line for successful defence of title

South African Charl Schwartzel went two shots clear of the chasing pack after the third round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek on Saturday to strengthen his chances of retaining his title.

The former Masters champion shot a third-round 67 for a 13-under-par total of 203 and the lead over second-placed Englishman Richard Fuinch.

Schwartzel hit a flawless round with five birdies as his overnight co-leader, Morten Orum Madsen, slumped to a 79 and fell 12 shots back.

Dane Madsen won the South African Open last week in the first event of the new European Tour season.

Schwartzel birdied the par-five second and then made a potentially decisive move around the turn.

A superb approach to the eighth left the South African with a tap-in birdie and another followed from six feet on the ninth, taking him out in 32. Further birdies on the 12th and 13th took him to 13 under par.

"It's one of those courses where I'm comfortable with all of the right lines," said Schwartzel, who has not dropped a shot since a double bogey at the 10th hole of his opening round. 

"A lot of golf courses you need to hit it on lines that you feel awkward with, but this course is mostly right in front of you. And I think it helps that I've had good success here too," he told reporters after his round at the picturesque course adjoining the Kruger Park.

Last year Schwartzel won the trophy by 12 shots but he can expect a tough tussle in Sunday's final round.

Finch, who dropped four shots on the last three holes on Friday, came back strongly on Saturday as his round of 67 put him 11 under par.

He lost his European Tour card earlier this year and is playing in the event by invitation.

Two Frenchmen lie third and fourth - Victor Riu on 10-under and Romain Wattela a further stroke behind.

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European Tour Dunhill Championship scores

Scores from the European Tour Dunhill Championship at the par-72 course on Saturday in Malelane

203	Charl Schwartzel (South Africa)	68 68 67
205	Richard Finch (Britain)	68 70 67
206	Victor Riu (France)	68 71 67
207	Romain Wattel (France)	70 69 68
208	Soren Hansen (Denmark)	72 65 71
209	Hennie Otto (South Africa)	69 71 69
	Ross Fisher (Britain)	72 65 72
210	Carlos Del Moral (Spain)	73 71 66
	Brendon De Jonge (Zimbabwe)	73 69 68
	Tyrone Van Aswegen (South Africa)	70 68 72
211	Lucas Bjerregaard (Denmark)	72 72 67
	Alejandro Canizares (Spain)	74 69 68
	Garth Mulroy (South Africa)	76 67 68
	Simon Dyson (Britain)	72 69 70
212	Kevin Phelan (Ireland)	70 74 68
	Allan Versfeld (South Africa)	66 77 69
	Simon Wakefield (Britain)	74 68 70
	Ricardo Santos (Portugal)	66 74 72
	David Drysdale (Britain)	68 72 72
	Danny Willett (Britain)	69 70 73
213	Brinson Paolini (U.S.)	73 71 69
	Warren Abery (South Africa)	73 71 69
	Andy Sullivan (Britain)	71 72 70
	James Kingston (South Africa)	69 74 70
	Charl Coetzee (South Africa)	70 72 71
	Niclas Fasth (Sweden)	72 68 73
	Titch Moore (South Africa)	71 69 73
	Kim Si-Hwan (South Korea)	70 69 74
	Michael Hollick (South Africa)	69 70 74
214	Alex Haindl (South Africa)	71 73 70
	Matthew Nixon (Britain)	72 71 71
	Magnus Carlsson (Sweden)	70 72 72
	Garrick Porteous (Britain)	71 69 74
215	Gareth Maybin (Britain)	69 75 71
	Andrew Curlewis (South Africa)	70 73 72
	Adrien Saddier (France)	72 71 72
	Jaco Van Zyl (South Africa)	70 72 73
	Alexander Levy (France)	73 68 74
	Jorge Campillo (Spain)	70 70 75
	Morten Madsen (Denmark)	65 71 79
216	Hendrik Buhrmann (South Africa)	72 72 72
	Oliver Fisher (Britain)	71 73 72
	Yubin Jung (South Africa)	73 70 73
	Ruan De Smidt (South Africa)	69 74 73
	Jens Dantorp (Sweden)	70 71 75
217	Robert Rock (Britain)	75 69 73
	Jacques Blaauw (South Africa)	76 68 73
	Steve Webster (Britain)	71 73 73
	Daniel Brooks (Britain)	70 74 73
	John Parry (Britain)	70 73 74
	Andrea Pavan (Italy)	72 71 74
	Francois Calmels (France)	74 68 75
	Ryan Cairns (Zimbabwe)	70 71 76
	Graeme Storm (Britain)	72 68 77
218	Damien McGrane (Ireland)	72 72 74
	Tjaart Van der Walt (South Africa)	70 74 74
	Chris Doak (Britain)	69 73 76
219	Lee Slattery (Britain)	73 71 75
	JG Claassen (South Africa)	70 73 76
	Haydn Porteous (South Africa)	72 69 78
221	Jaco Ahlers (South Africa)	71 71 79
222	Johan Carlsson (Sweden)	73 70 79
223	Justin Walters (South Africa)	76 68 79
	Jbe Kruger (South Africa)	74 68 81
	Tyrone Ferreira (South Africa)	72 70 81
224	JJ Senekal (South Africa)	72 72 80
231	Mark Williams (South Africa)	76 68 87

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