Ageless Adam Scott in final group shootout at US Open
Adam Scott reacts to a putt on the 18th today – image Kathryn Riley USGA
Adam Scott will join leader, Sam Burns, in the final round of the US Open at Oakmont after the Australian’s third round of 67 saw him move within one shot of the leader and with just Scott himself as the only player to have won a major title amongst the leading ten players on the leaderboard, the 44 year old’s chances of a second major title are looking increasingly bright.
Scott began the third round three shots behind Burns but made a shaky start when he three putted to slip four behind. Two magnificent shots to the 4th hole led to a two-putt birdie, and he was on his way to the equal best round of the day, in which he would not drop another shot but add four birdies.
A last hole bogey by the man who shares second place with Scott, J.J. Spaun ensured Scott would be paired with Burns given he was the first player in at 3 under and whether the pairing plays a role or not in tomorrow’s final round, that Scott has ‘been there before and done that’ might well play a role in his chances of a second major, a record 12 years after the first.
Henry Cotton, Julius Boros, Hale Irwin and Ben Crenshaw endured an eleven year wait before they claimed a follow up major title and, tomorrow, Scott has a chance of not only establishing a new record in that regard but, at the age of 44, becoming the second oldest winner of the US Open after Hale Irwin who was 45 when claiming a third US Open title in 1990.
Scott would become just the third Australian to win the US Open following the victories of David Graham and Geoff Ogilvy.
Scott hit just 10 of 14 fairways and 11 of 18 greens. Still, it was an impressive performance with the putter, especially when it mattered, along with a superb short game that saw him move into a share of the lead briefly when he holed a 15-footer for birdie at the 17th, before Burns regained his outright lead with his own birdie at the same hole.
“Yeah, it would be super fulfilling,” responded Scott when asked what a win tomorrow would mean to him. “Everyone out here has got their journey, you know. Putting ourselves in these positions doesn’t just happen by fluke. It’s not easy to do it. I really haven’t been in this kind of position for five or six years, or feeling like I’m that player. But that’s what I’m always working towards. It’s not that easy to figure it all out.
“But if I were to come away with it tomorrow, it would be a hell of a round of golf and an exclamation point on my career.
“I’m playing good, so there’s no reason not to. I’m playing from the fairway a lot. I’ve played fairly conservative, and I haven’t really been forcing the issue much. Could be a different story tomorrow. A lot can happen in 18 holes out here. But I like what I’ve done so far.
Burns, who last week lost a playoff for the Canadian Open to New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, is clearly in fine form and as one of the longer hitters on the PGA Tour and the tour’s best putter, statistically, this season, he fitted the mould of a player likely to do well even before the event. But, without a major to his name as yet, tomorrow’s challenge is immense, especially given that he is vying for the greatest title an American can win.
“I think as a kid growing up, you dream about winning major championships and that’s why we practice so hard and work so hard. All these guys in this field, I think, would agree that to have the opportunity to win a major is special. I’m definitely really excited for tomorrow.”
One of the features of Burns career is that he has kept the same group of people around him for virtually throughout and he explained what he sees as the importance of just that.
“Yeah, I think my dad has always said you’ve got to dance with who brought you. For me, my coach (Brad Pullin) and I have been working together since I was 15 or 16, and to me, it seems way more complicated to go seek advice from someone else who doesn’t know me or know my golf swing.
“I fully trust him and what he thinks and what he says, and our relationship is much more than just a swing coach. So I think for me golf is complicated enough, it’s difficult enough. For me I have always thought just trying to keep it simple and just figure out what works for me.”
J.J. Spaun is another facing a possible first major title as he too sits just one off the lead after a bogey at the last cost him a place in the final group. Instead, he will play his final round with Viktor Hovland, who is three from the lead and two behind Scott and Spaun.
The bogey was disappointing for Spaun, especially after a break with his tee shot, but he is excited about tomorrow’s battle.
“I’m just happy I’m still within shouting distance going into tomorrow. 18’s just a tough hole, kind of if you’re out of position. I was already lucky to have a clean lie, somewhat of a clean lie on the second shot. But, you know, bogeys happen at Oakmont, and I still got 18 holes tomorrow.
“It’s fun. I mean, this is the first time for me to be in contention in a major, I think, yeah. I mean THE PLAYERS is an unofficial major, I guess, but yeah, it’s fun. I mean it’s kind of everything that you prepare and hope to have the opportunity to have at these big events, let alone just getting into them, are so hard.
“That was me a year ago — I mean a year and prior, like I couldn’t even get into these tournaments. So, to see myself here qualifying off World Ranking just based off how I’ve been playing all year was a nice treat. But then, to kind of back up how I’ve been doing all year and be in contention is fun.
Of the Australasians other than Scott, Marc Leishman improved from just inside the cutline to a share of 11th with his round of 68, an outward nine of 32 setting up something even better, but very good all the same, especially given he gained his place in the field via final qualifying.
Jason Day was round in 72 to be tied for 21st, Ryan Fox had 73 to be tied for 39th despite three consecutive birdies in the middle of his front nine and Cam Davis is last of those who made the weekend with a third round of 82.
Leaderboard
Sam Burns – hits his tee shot at the 13th today – image Chris Keane USGA
