Date: December 01, 2013
Author: Martin Blake At Royal Sydney

3.20pm update: Scott in reach of Open triumph

Adam Scott is within touching distance of his second Emirates Australian Open title and the vaunted triple crown of Australian golf. The hometown hero regained the lead in the championship when he made a two-metre putt for birdie after a brilliant iron shot at the ninth hole. Earlier the Queenslander had conceded all of his four-shot overnight lead when Northern Ireland&aposs Rory McIlroy made a characteristic charge. A brilliant eagle at the par-five seventh hole followed by a birdie from close range at the eighth gave the world No 6 a share of the lead before Scott steadied again. Through 12 holes, Scott was at 17-under, a shot in advance of McIlroy. Huge crowds followed the world class pair around Royal Sydney in a finish that could scarcely be scripted better. Scott&aposs day began badly with a bogey at the first, after his shot from the front bunker went off the back of the green and into a swale. The Queenslander could not find any momentum.