Schwartzel in line for successful defense of title

MALELANE, South Africa - 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.

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.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.

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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Schwartzel leads after 3 rounds at Alfred Dunhill

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

The defending champion, Schwartzel 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 struggling in the final round.

Schwartzel had five birdies and no bogeys to take the lead at the Alfred Dunhill, which he won by 12 shots a year ago for his last European Tour win. Schwartzel's co-overnight leader, Morten Orum Madsen, shot a 7-over 79.

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Scott leads McIlroy by 4 shots at Australian Open

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 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.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.

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.

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OneAsia drop inaugural tour championship from 2013 schedule

SYDNEY - OneAsia have dropped their inaugural Tour Championship from the 2013 schedule after failing to secure enough big name players for the $2 million tournament.

The event was announced in May and scheduled to take place at Mission Hills in Shenzhen, China next month but will now be part of an expanded 2014 schedule, a spokesman for the Asia-Pacific tour said.

"The tournament promoters set a high bar for the inaugural championship, but unfortunately several of the targeted players already had commitments, so the first edition has been postponed until next year," he said. 

"It has been a year of consolidation both for OneAsia and the industry in general, but we expect to shortly announce an outline of our expanded 2014 schedule which already includes a confirmed new tournament, the Fiji International, co-sanctioned with the PGA Tour of Australasia."

The decision to postpone the Tour Championship means this week's co-sanctioned Australian Open will be the ninth and final individual event of the year.

Australian Matthew Griffin now looks certain to secure the tour's Order of Merit, barring a spectacular collapse over the final two days at Royal Sydney.

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Charl Schwartzel and Morten Orum Madsen lead Alfred Dunhill Championship

Defending champion Charl Schwartzel claimed a share of the lead at the halfway stage of the Alfred Dunhill Championship, despite complaining of some "very, very iffy" pin positions at Leopard Creek.

Schwartzel carded a second consecutive 68 to finish alongside South African Open winner Morten Orum Madsen on eight under par, with Madsen's fellow Dane Soren Hansen and England's Ross Fisher a shot behind in second.

Despite not dropping a shot on Friday, Schwartzel was unhappy with several of the hole locations on the back nine, the former Masters champion having to play at a 90 degree angle away from the pin on the par-three 12th, where the severe slope helped Argentina's Emiliano Grillo win a BMW earlier in the day for a hole-in-one.

The Irish challenge faded somewhat today with Gareth Maybin (75) and Kevin Phelan (74) dropping back to level par alongside Damien McGrane (72). Peter Lawrie is four over with Simon Thornton five over.

Afterwards leader Schwartzel said: "There were a few pin positions that were very, very iffy, 13 and 14 in particular.

"They have gone too close to the limit. Maybe they put them out in the dark."

Madsen had held the overnight lead after an opening 65 and remained top of the leaderboard after England's Richard Finch suffered a nightmare finish to his second round.

Two-time European Tour winner Finch lost his card at the end of the 2013 season and failed to regain it at the qualifying school, but received an invite from the tournament sponsors to compete here.

The 36-year-old from Hull looked on course to make the most of it when he picked up six birdies in his first 15 holes to move into a three-shot lead on 10 under par.

However, Finch, who won the New Zealand Open and Irish Open in 2008, fluffed a chip on the par-three 16th, dropped another shot on the 17th and then dumped his approach to the 18th into the water guarding the green to card a double-bogey seven.

That meant he had to settle for a round of 70 and halfway total of six under par, two behind Madsen who had a rollercoaster round of his own in pursuit of back-to-back wins.

Madsen carded two double-bogeys, two bogeys, an eagle and five birdies in his 71 and said: "My driver was not in synch today, I had some bad shots right and left which cost me a few shots. I will work on it and am sure I will be better tomorrow."

"The birdies are there, I just need to weed out some of the mistakes like four-putting the 13th. I would have loved to have shot a lower score today but I am still in a great position to make a charge on the weekend."

In contrast, Fisher carded just one bogey in his 65, the former Ryder Cup player firing six birdies and an eagle to boost his chances of a first European Tour title since 2010.

Fisher failed to keep his card on the PGA Tour this season but has been in a rich vein of form since returning to Europe, recording five top-10 finishes, including losing out in a play-off for the Perth International last month.

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Rory McIlroy two shots off the lead in Australia

Rory McIlroy shot a second-round 65 to give himself a chance of winning the first trophy of a forgettable year at the Emirates Australian Open.

The Northern Irishman will want to put 2013 to bed after an alarming loss of form cost him the world number one spot, but he could at least end it on a high.

He trails home favourite Adam Scott by two shots at the midway point at the Royal Sydney Golf club after a fine round which contained nine birdies.

The overall leaderboard was also affected by Scott failing to seriously follow up his course-record 62 from day one, but McIlroy will not worry about that.

He may well kick himself about a 17th-hole bogey but the fact that he recovered to birdie the last suggests he is in good shape.

"When you see someone like that (Scott) at the top of the leaderboard already with a low score, it's tough not to think about it," McIlroy told the tournament's official website at the end of his round. 

"It's tough not to sort of press the issue and try and make birdies to catch up with them right away but golf tournaments are long, they're four days, 72 holes and there's a lot of time to chip away at those leads." 

"I feel like I'm playing well. I'm hitting the ball well off the tee and giving myself plenty of chances" - Rory McIlroy

McIlroy's bad year has been well covered but he insists he has long felt back on track.

"I feel like I'm playing well. I'm hitting the ball well off the tee and giving myself plenty of chances. It was good to see a few more putts go in today," he added. 

"As I've said for the last few weeks, the game is feeling much better and I'm much more comfortable with it."

Scott was always unlikely to match his brilliant opening-day score, but he could have wished for a more consistent round.

Gunning for the 'Aussie treble' of this tournament to go alongside his Australian PGA and Australian Masters titles, Scott signed for seven birdies, three bogeys and one double-bogey on an up and down afternoon.

In close attendance at the top of the leaderboard is Richard Green who rests on nine under par overall, with Friday's round of 66 including a hole-in-one on the sixth.

"That shot on the par-three sixth today was a flush golf shot. It's nice to build a bit of confidence from hitting good shots again," said Green. 

"I love coming to Royal Sydney. It's my favourite course up here. I've done well here before. It fits my game, how far I hit the golf ball at least."

Matthew Jones trails by a shot in fourth, with four more players on six under, among them amateur Bradley Watt.

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Morten Orum Madsen leads Alfred Dunhill Championship after round one

Denmark's Morten Orum Madsen is on course for back-to-back wins in South Africa after taking the lead in the first round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

Four days after winning his maiden European Tour title in the South African Open, Madsen carded a seven under par 65 at Leopard Creek to finish one ahead of local favourite Allan Versfeld and Portugal's Ricardo Santos.

Madsen carded eight birdies and one bogey as he continued his remarkable start to only his second full season on Tour, having finished 81st in last season's Race to Dubai.

Versfeld returned a flawless 66 thanks to an eagle and four birdies, while Santos did likewise and finished in style with his eagle coming on the par-five 18th.

Defending champion Charl Schwartzel was two shots further back on four under alongside England's Richard Finch, Scotland's David Drysdale and France's Victor Riu.

Ireland’s Gareth Maybin was tied for eighth on three under after an excellent 69, with Kevin Phelan a shot further back on two under. Damien McGrane and Peter Lawrie finished level par for the day, whil Michael Hoey is on four over and Simon Thornton seven over.

"Today it seemed easy but it definitely wasn't, it was pretty tough out there and the course was playing long with the wind," Madsen told reporters after his round. 

"I played really solidly, I gave myself a lot of looks at birdie and a lot of shorter ones which was nice. 

"I have a lot of confidence right now, I really believe I am going to hit good shots on pretty much every shot. I don't pull off all of them - I hit my tee shot on the seventh in the water - but the majority of them came off well and I rolled in some nice putts. 

"I'm really, really happy with how I played, I heard it's tough to come out the week after you have won and play well but I felt pretty relaxed in the days leading up to the tournament and I just wanted to go out and see if I can put some solid shots together and I managed to do that today and put myself in a good position. 

"Hopefully I can keep it up. 

"I wasn't expecting to shoot 65 today, I knew I was playing well but I won last week so everything that happens this week or next week is going to be icing on the cake. I am just trying to enjoy the ride."

Schwartzel was five under for his first six holes and annoyed at not capitalising on such a blistering start, declining to speak to reporters afterwards.

The former Masters champion won his first European Tour title at Leopard Creek in 2005 and triumphed by 12 shots last year, just a week after winning the Thailand Open by 11 strokes.

The 29-year-old has also finished second four times in what he unsurprisingly describes as his favourite event - an event in which he was a cumulative 81 under par before Thursday.

That total soon improved as Schwartzel started from the 10th with five birdies in his opening six holes, before a bogey on the 17th saw him reach the turn in 33.

A double bogey on the first then dropped him back to just two under par and revived painful memories of last week's South African Open, where he held a three-shot lead early in the final round, but ran up a triple-bogey six on the sixth and also took a double bogey on the 10th.

The world number 21 did make three birdies in the last eight holes at Glendower to finish joint fourth and also responded quickly here, holing from 12 feet for a birdie on the second and from around 50ft for another on the par-three seventh.

Scotland's Chris Doak had been six under par with three holes to play, but bogeyed the seventh and double-bogeyed the eighth and had to settle for a three-under 69.

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Adam Scott leads Australian Open, Rory McIlroy seven shots back

Masters champion Adam Scott rated Thursday's course-record ten-under 62 at the Emirates Australian Open as one of his best-ever rounds - but maintained his picture-perfect golf swing was not quite where he wanted it to be.

The world number two burst out of the blocks with six straight birdies but lost his rhythm midway through his opening round at the Royal Sydney Golf Club and had to settle for eight straight pars.

He bounced back with a superb tee shot on the par-three sixth and sunk the short putt, however, to spark another run of four straight birdies and smash the previous course record by three shots.

"I can't sit here and complain about anything, but, a bit like last week in the first round, the swing wanders on a couple of shots and it did it again today," Scott said.

"It's not quite in the slot, although I hit a lot of great shots today.

"It's a bit - I don't know the right way to say it - it's not as free-flowing as the first couple of weeks (at the Australian PGA Championship and Australian Masters).

"The swing is a bit of hard work for me at the moment. I can still hit good shots, obviously, but hitting a few average ones as well and I got away with the bad ones with some good saves.

"I felt like there's been a good round in me for four weeks, and finally I threw it out there today."

Scott, looking to become the second man to win Australia's Triple Crown in a single season, led little-known Canadian Ryan Yip and American John Young Kim by three shots heading into round two after the pair posted 65s.

Australian David McKenzie was fourth after a 66, with Australian trio Jason Norris, Alistair Presnell and Jason Scrivener a further stroke back.

The other star attraction in Sydney this week, Rory McIlroy, headed into the second round seven shots adrift of Scott after starting with a three-under 69.

The 24-year-old Northern Irishman is still seeking his first win of a troubled year but has at least shown signs of improvement in recent weeks - and he recovered well on Thursday after bogeying his first two holes.

McIlroy dropped shots on the par-four tenth and 11th holes, but was flawless otherwise and picked up five birdies to get himself back into contention and into a share of 16th spot after round one.

It was undeniably Scott's day, however.

The 33-year-old Queenslander is renowned as a strong front-runner, but conceded matching his opening-round performance will take some doing with wet and windy conditions forecast for Friday.

"It's a mindset. You want to be a good front-runner, you want to be out there and, when you're playing well, you want to keep your foot on the gas," he said.

"I've had a few times in my career where I ran away and won by several shots. It's a good attribute to have - it's hard to do but it's a good attribute if you can do it.

"Tomorrow's a whole different ball-game. Backing up a low round is something that's hard to do and you don't often see guys go back-to-back low like that.

"So I'm going to have to come out tomorrow and try and get control of my game and mind again and just deal with the conditions as best I can."

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Rory McIlroy: Sporting pressures take their toll

The pressure to succeed in sport is pushing more and more athletes towards stress-related illnesses, according to Rory McIlroy.

McIlroy is looking to put a troubled year on and off the course behind him at this week's Australian Open.

The 24-year-old, who slipped from the top of the rankings to world number six after a winless 2013, said the mental toll of sport could far outweigh the physical pressures and cases such as that of England cricketer Jonathan Trott were becoming more frequent.

Trott flew home from Australia on Monday to deal with a stress-related illness following England's calamitous start to the Ashes series.

"It's sad to see something like that happen and it just shows what a mental toll sport can take on you sometimes," McIlroy told reporters at Royal Sydney.

"Hopefully he gets home and spends some time with his family and recovers and can come back.

"As sport becomes so big and there's so much pressure and so much on the line, it's becoming more and more common that these sorts of stress-related illnesses are happening and it just shows how much of a mental toll it takes on you sometimes."

"It's becoming more and more common that these sorts of stress-related illnesses are happening" - Rory McIlroy

He acknowledged there was a world of difference between casual banter on the golf course and the sledging that took place in Brisbane, where England were thrashed by 381 runs in the first test.

"I think the sledging this year has probably been a bit worse than other years as well," the Northern Irishman added.

"It looks like they're just having a go at each other after every ball. It would be really tough to take that for however long you're out there for.

"They seem to really get at each other's throat whenever they're in there."

McIlroy has had to deal with a myriad of off-course distractions this year, but his form seems to be improving heading into the final events of the year.

In addition to his high-profile switch to Nike, a dispute with American sportswear company Oakley and his split with Dublin-based Horizon Sports Management, McIlroy has also had to deal with the media focus on his relationship with tennis star Caroline Wozniacki.

"It's been a long year, I guess mentally more than physically," he added.

"Physically, golf doesn't take that much out of you but mentally it's quite draining, especially this year for me, not just the golf and being frustrated with my game but having to answer the questions and having to come up with reasons why I'm not playing well and all that stuff."

McIlroy will face stiff competition at Royal Sydney from US Masters champion Adam Scott and another Australian Jason Day, who won the World Cup's individual trophy by two strokes on Sunday.

"I've said for the last couple of months I just wanted to try and finish this season strongly and get some momentum to go in 2014," he added.

"This would be the perfect place to get that first win of the year and give me a sort of springboard into the next season."

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Rory McIlroy opens himself up to scrutiny after admitting dismay at growing pressures of sport after Jonathan Trott's Ashes exit

The Northern Irish golfer admits Trott's departure represents the growing ever-increasing toll that sport can have on the mental state of those who compete

Those of the Piers Morgan persuasion, who see elite sport as the ultimate expression of the life of Riley, will have little sympathy with the commentary of Rory McIlroy, who presented himself for scrutiny in the first round of the Australian Open in Sydney overnight, and is dismayed by the events surrounding England cricketer Jonathan Trott.

Morgan tweeted his empathy with the England batsmen quoting the legendary Australian all-rounder of yore, Keith Miller: “Pressure is a Messerschmitt up your arse. Playing cricket is not.” In other words Trotty, get a grip, man up, grow a pair, or whatever the expression is in Morgan’s macho wonderland.

This is not a view shared by McIlroy, who has spent the past 11 months in a similar personal space to Trott, desperately trying to balance expectation and disappointment. Where Trott has gone, more might follow warns McIlroy. “The pressure to succeed in sport is pushing more and more athletes towards stress-related illnesses,” he said.

“As sport becomes so big and there’s so much pressure and so much on the line, it’s becoming more and more common that these sorts of illnesses are happening and it just shows how much of a mental toll it takes on you sometimes. It’s sad to see something like that happen. Hopefully he gets home and spends some time with his family and recovers and can come back.”

McIlroy is hoping to sign off a year of frustration and rancour with victory in Australia or at next week’s Tiger Woods World Challenge in California. At least then the conversation might not be about his form following the lucrative switch to Nike clubs, his legal confrontation with former management company Horizon, the status of his relationship with Caroline Wozniacki or the health of his wisdom tooth.

“It’s been a long year, I guess mentally more than physically,” he said. “Physically, golf doesn’t take that much out of you but mentally it’s quite draining, especially this year for me, not just the golf and being frustrated with my game but having to answer the questions and having to come up with reasons why I’m not playing well and all that stuff.

“I’ve said for the last couple of months I just wanted to try and finish this season strongly and get some momentum to go in 2014. This would be the perfect place to get that first win of the year and give me a sort of springboard into the next season.” 

To prevail this week McIlroy must get past local favourites Adam Scott and Jason Day, Both have been on the Australian clock for a couple of weeks as they take advantage of the gaps in the calendar to contest tournaments on home soil.

Scott won the Australian Masters a fortnight ago in Melbourne and cleaned up on the same course last week partnering Jason Day to the team title in the World Cup of Golf. Day won the individual event. “I know I’m going to have to play my best golf to beat them,” McIlroy said.

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Rory McIlroy insists he is close to kind of form which saw him win two major titles

Rory McIlroy was delighted by his second round of 65 at the Australian Open which saw him close to within two shots of leader Adam Scott.

The two-time major champion admitted he had started to feel despondent during Thursday's opening round as he saw Scott disappearing into the distance on the back of a stunning course record 62 at the Royal Sydney Golf Club.

But, 24 hours later, it was McIlroy's turn to shine as he produced a joint best-of-the-day 65 to catapult himself into contention, making up five shots on the Australian.

"It would have been very easy for me to get frustrated yesterday, and I was a little frustrated, because I bogeyed 10 and 11 to go back to even par, and I'm thinking to myself, 'I'm 10 behind, not just 10 behind anyone, I'm 10 behind Scotty," McIlroy told reporters.

"When you see someone like that at the top of the leaderboard already with a low score, it's tough not to think about it. It's tough not to sort of press the issue... but golf tournaments are long and there's lots of time to chip away."

"You saw me in 2010 (at The Open), it can evaporate very quickly," added the Northern Irishman, referencing the 2010 Open Championship where he opened with a course record 63 at St Andrews, only to follow it with an 80.

Back on song

For weeks McIlroy has been talking positively of his game and now believes he is very close the kind of form which saw him win no fewer than five times last season.

"I'm hitting the ball well off the tee and giving myself plenty of chances. It was good to see a few putts go in today," he continued. "As I've said for the last few weeks, the game is feeling much better and I'm much more comfortable now.

Rory McIlroy is pleased the form he has shown in the first two rounds at the Australian Open and hopes it can continue.

"It's the end of the season and I want to finish the season off well. It's a big tournament for me so, in terms of satisfaction, going out there and shooting a good score and putting myself in position for the weekend, yeah, I'm very happy.

"After not making the Tour Championship in the States, it was all about trying to build momentum for 2014 and that's what I feel I've started here.

"I think (my game) is just about in the same shape (as when he won his two majors)... it's all mental.

"When you get a run of events where you play well, your mindset going into tournaments is going under par, winning, getting onto the top of the leader board as soon as possible, and when you're not playing well, it's a bit different... if you're not playing well it's a bit different, you're hoping to do well, but not really expecting to."

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Adam Scott excited about prospect of completing triple crown of titles on home soil

Adam Scott is excited about the prospect of completing a triple crown of titles on home soil, but has revealed that the only other man to achieve the feat is refusing to help his bid.

Scott - who became the first Australian to win the Masters at Augusta earlier in the season - has enjoyed a remarkable run of results during a frenetic four-week swing Down Under.

The 33-year-old won the Australian PGA Championship and Australian Masters titles in successive weeks before finishing third at the World Cup of Golf in Melbourne on Sunday, scooping the team title with compatriot Jason Day in the process.

He is now looking to become only the second player to complete a memorable hat-trick by adding the Australian Open title to his PGA and Masters triumphs.

Robert Allenby is the only player to have managed the accomplishment back in 2005, but Scott joked that his fellow Aussie was not offering up any advice.

"Obviously I'm excited about this week with the chance to win the triple crown of Australian golf like Robert (Allenby) did a few years back (2005), so there is a lot on the line and a lot to play for," Scott said.

"I'm certainly looking forward to having a go at it this week.

Tough competition

"The course (Royal Sydney) is looking good and the competition is tough. I think it will be a well-earned victory for whoever ends up on top."

"I'll leave the sledging to the cricketers. I caught up with Robert (on Tuesday) night at the function and I asked some advice on how to go about it, but he didn't offer any up." 

Adam Scott on Robert Allenby

Asked if he had caught up with Allenby and whether there had been any pre-tournament sledging, Scott said: "I'll leave the sledging to the cricketers. I caught up with Robert (on Tuesday) night at the function and I asked some advice on how to go about it, but he didn't offer any up.

"I'm left to my own devices this week."

The Adelaide-native did acknowledge, though, that his bid for history had left him drained after a hectic month-long schedule.

"At the end of last week I was tired and I was tired the last couple of days but I rested," added Scott, who won the 2009 Australian Open.

"That's how you have to balance a schedule when you're playing a little more than usual and I kind of had that in mind, knowing that I was playing four weeks. I've taken the days off where I can in the schedule.

"So today I feel good, kind of energized to get in. It's the Australian Open; it's the last week of the year for me, I want to finish big."

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Australian Open: Adam Scott keeps Triple Crown dream alive

Adam Scott remains well-placed to complete the Australian Triple Crown although his lead at the top of the leaderboard in Sydney was cut to two shots.

Scott is aiming to add the Australian Open titles to the PGA and Masters crowns he has already claimed - with Robert Allenby, in 2005, the only other player to complete the feat.

Scott, though, faces stiff competition from Rory McIlroy, with the Northern Irishman carving his way through the field.

Scott had been the star performer in the opening round after a course record 62, however he found the scoring on Friday tougher as storms had an impact.

A mixed round, including seven birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey at the fourth, left the Masters champion to sign for second round 70.

And Scott, who is on 12-under for the tournament, will be casting an anxious look over his shoulder after McIlroy made his move to highlight his return to form.

Softer

"It was always going to be a day where you just had to hang on," Scott said.

Second round leaderboard

(Aus unless stated)

-12 A Scott

-10 R McIlroy (NIrl)

-9 R Green

-8 M Jones

"He (McIlroy) is one of the best players in the world so I'm going to have to bring my best game."

McIlroy, taking advantage of the calmer conditions early on, picked up nine birdies and two bogeys on his way to seven-under for the round - and 10-under overall.

"The weather wasn't as bad as we thought it was going to be and the wind didn't pick up," he said.

"So I knew we could take advantage of that, and the greens were a little bit softer as well."

Richard Green is a shot further back after his round off 66, while, Matthew Jones is on eight under.

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Alfred Dunhill Championship: Charl Schwartzel takes share of halfway lead at Leopard Creek

Defending champion Charl Schwartzel and last week's winner Morten Orum Madsen are tied for the halfway lead in the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

The duo share top spot at Leopard Creek Country Club in South Africa after posting eight-under - a shot clear of England's Ross Fisher and Madsen's fellow Dane Soren Hansen.

Second round leaderboard

(Rsa unless stated)

-8 M O Madsen (Den)

-8 C Schwartzel

-7 R Fisher (Eng)

-7 S Hansen (Den)

-6 T Van Aswegen

-6 R Finch (Eng)

Madsen, who captured last week's South African Open, had a rollercoaster round as he went in search of back-to-back victories.

Starting from the 10th, Madsen had taken a double bogey seven on the 13th but bounced back with three birdies in the next five holes and then eagled the par five second from 15 feet.

However, he then dropped shots at the next two holes and double bogeyed the fifth before birdies at the sixth and eighth completed a 71.

That gave him the clubhouse lead but he was caught by Schwartzel, who made steady progress towards the top of the leaderboard in the afternoon session.

The 2011 Masters champion was four back when he teed off but made birdies at five, six and nine to be just a shot off the pace.

A birdie at the par five 15th pulled Schwartzel level and three closing pars gave him a second successive 68 and kept the pre-tournament favourite alongside Madsen going into the weekend.

The most extreme round of the day was played by Darren Fichardt.

The South African produced a superb back nine 30 to move into the top five, just two back, before making bogeys at 13 and 16.

A birdie at the par five closing hole would still have seen him finish the day in a tie for seventh but, instead, he made three visits to the water, racked up a quintuple bogey 10 and missed the cut.

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Denmark's Morten Orum Madsen is on course for back-to-back wins in South Africa

Denmark's Morten Orum Madsen is on course for back-to-back wins in South Africa after taking the lead in the first round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

Four days after winning his maiden European Tour title in the South African Open, the 25-year-old from Silkeborg carded a seven-under-par 65 at Leopard Creek to finish one ahead of local favourite Allan Versfeld and Portugal's Ricardo Santos.

Madsen carded eight birdies and one bogey as he continued his remarkable start to only his second full season on Tour, having finished 81st in last season's Race to Dubai.

Versfeld returned a flawless 66 thanks to an eagle and four birdies, while Santos did likewise and finished in style with his eagle coming on the signature par-five 18th.

Defending champion Charl Schwartzel was two shots further back on four-under alongside England's Richard Finch, Scotland's David Drysdale and France's Victor Riu.

"Today it seemed easy but it definitely wasn't, it was pretty tough out there and the course was playing long with the wind," Madsen said after his round.

"I played really solidly, I gave myself a lot of looks at birdie and a lot of shorter ones which was nice.

"I have a lot of confidence right now, I really believe I am going to hit good shots on pretty much every shot. I don't pull off all of them - I hit my tee shot on the seventh in the water - but the majority of them came off well and I rolled in some nice putts.

Really happy

"I'm really, really happy with how I played, I heard it's tough to come out the week after you have won and play well but I felt pretty relaxed in the days leading up to the tournament and I just wanted to go out and see if I can put some solid shots together and I managed to do that today and put myself in a good position. Hopefully I can keep it up.

First round leaderboard

(SA unless stated)

-7 M Madsen (Den)

-6 A Versfeld

-6 R Santos (Por)

-4 D Drysdale (Sco)

-4 R Finch (Eng)

-4 V Riu (Fra)

-4 C Schwartzel

"I wasn't expecting to shoot 65 today, I knew I was playing well but I won last week so everything that happens this week or next week is going to be icing on the cake. I am just trying to enjoy the ride."

Schwartzel was five-under for his first six holes and annoyed at not capitalising on such a blistering start, declining to speak to reporters afterwards.

The former Masters champion won his first European Tour title at Leopard Creek in 2005 and triumphed by 12 shots last year, just a week after winning the Thailand Open by 11 strokes.

The 29-year-old has also finished second four times in what he unsurprisingly describes as his favourite event - an event in which he was a cumulative 81 under par before Thursday.

That total soon improved as Schwartzel started from the 10th with five birdies in his opening six holes, before a bogey on the 17th saw him reach the turn in 33.

A double-bogey on the first then dropped him back to just two-under par and revived painful memories of last week's South African Open, where he held a three-shot lead early in the final round, but ran up a triple-bogey six on the sixth and also took a double-bogey on the 10th.

The world number 21 did make three birdies in the last eight holes at Glendower to finish joint fourth and also responded quickly here, holing from 12 feet for a birdie on the second and from around 50 feet for another on the par-three seventh.

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Alfred Dunhill Championship: Charl Schwartzel up for defence

Former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel could not be in a better place as he looks to forget the one that got away by defending his Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek.

Schwartzel looked set to win the South African Open last week when he held a three-shot lead early in the final round, but dumped his tee shot on the sixth into water short of the green to run up a triple-bogey six.

The South African also took a double bogey on the 10th as his hopes of winning his home Open for the first time evaporated, although three birdies in the last eight holes at least saw him finish joint fourth at Glendower Golf Club.

The world No 21 has the opportunity to make amends at one of his favourite venues this week, having won his first European Tour title at Leopard Creek in 2005 and triumphing by 12 shots last year, just a week after winning the Thailand Open by 11 strokes.

"I have great memories from last year, I played probably some of the best golf I have ever played in my life," Schwartzel told a pre-tournament press conference.

"I've always had very good success round here, it's one of my favourite, if not my favourite golf course.

"What happened last week, if I had to analyse it I thought I played well for 70 holes of that tournament. Everything pretty much went according to how I wanted it to go but I hit one bad shot on the sixth and made a triple bogey and then hit a big piece of steel that was under the ground on the 10th hole and that led to a double bogey.

"If it wasn't for those two holes, I don't want to say I would have won, but I would have had a very good chance of winning.

"I played good enough golf to have won that tournament and if I can bring that over to this week, a course that I like, there is no reason why I can't repeat this week."

Madsen buzzing

Morten Madsen was the major beneficiary of Schwartzel's collapse last week - and that of another South African Hennie Otto - the Dane claiming his first European Tour title by two shots.

The 25-year-old is in only his second full season but has not ruled out claiming back-to-back triumphs on Sunday.

"It was such a great week last week, I am still over-the-moon happy about what happened," Madsen said.

"I think it's starting to sink in and I realise that I've actually won on the European Tour, it's not just a dream any more, it's actually reality.

"It's something I've been dreaming about since I was a little kid, since I picked up the clubs. It's just awesome that it's here already and it's only the beginning of my second year on the European tour. I never expected it to happen this fast. But it's here and now I want to go on and see where I can go from here.

"It would be a little bit arrogant to say that I'm just here to win but I am here to try and play well and try and take some of the game I had last week into this week and we'll see where it takes me from there.

"First I would like to make the cut and put myself in a good position for the weekend and you never know, maybe I will be there on Sunday and fighting for the trophy."

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Australian Open: Adam Scott holds a three-shot lead after a course record 62

Adam Scott fired a course record 62 to take the lead after the first round of the Australian Open in Sydney.

Scott is looking to become only the second player to land the Australian PGA, Masters and Open title in the same season, and at three shots clear is bang on course for the hat-trick.

The US Masters champion had a strange round, birdieing the first six holes, parring the next eight, before finishing strongly with four more birdies.

"It was a beautiful day for golf, I came out hitting great shots and didn't have much work to do to clean them up in the first five holes and had a nice putt on my sixth hole and I was really rolling at that stage," he said.

"But I think I've gone through a rollercoaster of emotion out there today from cruising after six holes to having to work pretty hard.

"Nothing much was going my way, I missed a green, felt like my swing was leaving me again, it's just amazing how in 18 holes you can do a 360 degrees of emotion and mood swings and everything."

Canadian Ryan Yip shot 65 to tie the previous record and was in second place. David McKenzie had a 66 while two-time champion Aaron Baddeley was in a group with 67s tied for fourth.

Rory McIlroy, trying to win for the first time this year, shot 69, seven behind Scott. The Northern Irishman made the turn at two-under, bogeyed 11 and 12 but had three birdies in his final seven holes, including on the 18th.

He took 29 putts and admitted he was disappointed at his return.

"I drove the ball pretty well off the tee but just didn't get any reward on the greens," he said. "I missed three short ones and that was just wasteful as I felt it could have been a lot lower, given that I am driving the ball the best I feel I ever had.

"It's just a matter of being more efficient and putting better, and that's really it as I only played the par fives in one under par, and the way I am driving it, I should be playing those in four under."

Kevin Streelman, who played with Matt Kuchar on the runner-up American team in last week's World Cup at Royal Melbourne, shot 70 playing in the same group as Scott and Jason Day, who also carded 70.

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European Tour Dunhill Championship scores

Scores from the European Tour Dunhill Championship at the par-72 course on Friday in Malelane. The cut was set at 144.

136	Morten Madsen (Denmark)	65 71
	Charl Schwartzel (South Africa)	68 68
137	Ross Fisher (Britain)	72 65
	Soren Hansen (Denmark)	72 65
138	Tyrone Van Aswegen (South Africa)	70 68
	Richard Finch (Britain)	68 70
139	Michael Hollick (South Africa)	69 70
	Romain Wattel (France)	70 69
	Kim Si-Hwan (South Korea)	70 69
	Danny Willett (Britain)	69 70
	Victor Riu (France)	68 71
140	Garrick Porteous (Britain)	71 69
	Jorge Campillo (Spain)	70 70
	Hennie Otto (South Africa)	69 71
	Graeme Storm (Britain)	72 68
	David Drysdale (Britain)	68 72
	Ricardo Santos (Portugal)	66 74
	Titch Moore (South Africa)	71 69
	Niclas Fasth (Sweden)	72 68
141	Alexander Levy (France)	73 68
	Ryan Cairns (Zimbabwe)	70 71
	Jens Dantorp (Sweden)	70 71
	Simon Dyson (Britain)	72 69
	Haydn Porteous (South Africa)	72 69
142	Jaco Ahlers (South Africa)	71 71
	Tyrone Ferreira (South Africa)	72 70
	Chris Doak (Britain)	69 73
	Jbe Kruger (South Africa)	74 68
	Brendon De Jonge (Zimbabwe)	73 69
	Magnus Carlsson (Sweden)	70 72
	Francois Calmels (France)	74 68
	Jaco Van Zyl (South Africa)	70 72
	Charl Coetzee (South Africa)	70 72
	Simon Wakefield (Britain)	74 68
143	Adrien Saddier (France)	72 71
	John Parry (Britain)	70 73
	Matthew Nixon (Britain)	72 71
	Andrea Pavan (Italy)	72 71
	JG Claassen (South Africa)	70 73
	Garth Mulroy (South Africa)	76 67
	Allan Versfeld (South Africa)	66 77
	Ruan De Smidt (South Africa)	69 74
	Yubin Jung (South Africa)	73 70
	Andrew Curlewis (South Africa)	70 73
	Johan Carlsson (Sweden)	73 70
	James Kingston (South Africa)	69 74
	Alejandro Canizares (Spain)	74 69
	Andy Sullivan (Britain)	71 72
144	Lucas Bjerregaard (Denmark)	72 72
	Daniel Brooks (Britain)	70 74
	Tjaart Van der Walt (South Africa)	70 74
	Warren Abery (South Africa)	73 71
	Oliver Fisher (Britain)	71 73
	Steve Webster (Britain)	71 73
	Alex Haindl (South Africa)	71 73
	Brinson Paolini (U.S.)	73 71
	Hendrik Buhrmann (South Africa)	72 72
	Jacques Blaauw (South Africa)	76 68
	Carlos Del Moral (Spain)	73 71
	Damien McGrane (Ireland)	72 72
	Justin Walters (South Africa)	76 68
	Lee Slattery (Britain)	73 71
	Robert Rock (Britain)	75 69
	Gareth Maybin (Britain)	69 75
	Kevin Phelan (Ireland)	70 74
	JJ Senekal (South Africa)	72 72
	Mark Williams (South Africa)	76 68
145	DNQ Ignacio Elvira (Spain)	75 70
	Jamie McLeary (Britain)	71 74
	Gregory Havret (France)	75 70
	Jose-Filipe Lima (Portugal)	75 70
	Thomas Aiken (South Africa)	71 74
	Darren Fichardt (South Africa)	71 74
	Eddie Pepperell (Britain)	74 71
	Peter Whiteford (Britain)	77 68
	Dean Burmester (South Africa)	71 74
	Grant Muller (South Africa)	72 73
	Tyrrell Hatton (Britain)	72 73
146	DNQ Francois Coetzee (South Africa)	76 70
	Ulrich Van den Berg (South Africa)	74 72
	Mikael Lundberg (Sweden)	74 72
	Trevor Fisher (South Africa)	73 73
	Kristoffer Broberg (Sweden)	71 75
	Seve Benson (Britain)	73 73
	Oliver Bekker (South Africa)	72 74
	James Heath (Britain)	73 73
	Neil Schietekat (South Africa)	74 72
	Prinavin Nelson (South Africa)	72 74
147	DNQ Teboho Sefatsa (South Africa)	75 72
	Dawie Van der Walt (South Africa)	74 73
	Jean Hugo (South Africa)	75 72
	Wade Ormsby (Australia)	76 71
	Tom Lewis (Britain)	74 73
	Emiliano Grillo (Argentina)	75 72
	Matthew Baldwin (Britain)	72 75
	Omar Sandys (South Africa)	72 75
	PH McIntyre (South Africa)	72 75
	MJ Daffue (South Africa)	76 71
	Pablo Martin (Spain)	70 77
	James Morrison (Britain)	78 69
	Marco Crespi (Italy)	72 75
	John Daly (U.S.)	72 75
	Merrick Bremner (South Africa)	74 73
	Dion Fourie (South Africa)	71 76
148	DNQ Stuart Manley (Britain)	74 74
	Christiaan Basson (South Africa)	70 78
	Scott Jamieson (Britain)	77 71
	Theunis Spangenberg (South Africa)	73 75
	Ignacio Garrido (Spain)	71 77
	Peter Lawrie (Ireland)	72 76
	Jake Roos (South Africa)	76 72
	Doug McGuigan (South Africa)	72 76
	Adrian Otaegui (Spain)	73 75
	Heinrich Bruiners (South Africa)	72 76
	Shaun Norris (South Africa)	73 75
149	DNQ Vaughn Groenewald (South Africa)	74 75
	James Kamte (South Africa)	75 74
	Andreas Harto (Denmark)	75 74
	Colin Nel (South Africa)	76 73
	JP Van der Walt (South Africa)	75 74
	George Coetzee (South Africa)	72 77
	Fabrizio Zanotti (Paraguay)	76 73
	Simon Thornton (Ireland)	79 70
150	DNQ Keith Horne (South Africa)	73 77
	Brandon Pieters (South Africa)	72 78
151	DNQ Craig Lee (Britain)	72 79
	Bryce Easton (South Africa)	71 80
	Gary Stal (France)	76 75
	Daan Huizing (Netherlands)	75 76
	Ockie Strydom (South Africa)	70 81
	Juan Langeveld (South Africa)	73 78
	Jared Harvey (South Africa)	82 69
152	DNQ Thomas Pieters (Belgium)	76 76
	Matthew Carvell (South Africa)	73 79
	Edoardo Molinari (Italy)	73 79
153	DNQ Maximilian Kieffer (Germany)	77 76
	Desne Van den Bergh (South Africa)	76 77
	Louis De Jager (South Africa)	79 74
	Louis Calitz (South Africa)	79 74
154	DNQ Riekus Nortje (South Africa)	74 80
	Peter Karmis (South Africa)	78 76
	Francesco Laporta (Italy)	78 76
	DNQ Justin Harding (South Africa)	75 80
	Lyle Rowe (South Africa)	77 78
156	DNQ Joachim Hansen (Denmark)	79 77
157	DNQ Richard Sterne (South Africa)	80 77
	Mark Murless (South Africa)	79 78
	Danie Van Tonder (South Africa)	83 74
158	DNQ Andrew Georgiou (South Africa)	75 83
	Thabang Simon (South Africa)	77 81
160	DNQ Musiwalo Nethunzwi (South Africa)	81 79
163	DNQ Chris Swanepoel (South Africa)	83 80
WDW	Desvonde Botes (South Africa)
WDW	Thomas Levet (France)
WDW	Michael Hoey (Britain)	76
DSQ	John Hahn (U.S.)

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