The three remaining Australians in the 2014 US Open field were unable to make up significant ground on runaway leader Martin Kaymer on Saturday in Pinehurst.
Adam Scott struggled with the par threes and had to be content with a 3-over 73, T16. 'Today was a bit of a letdown' Scott said. 'Every round I have got it under par after the first half a dozen holes. Maybe one day I'll manage to keep it going. It's a little disappointing. It's just the way it is out here. I wish I could have hit a couple more greens today.'
Jason Day could not repeat his great form (68) of day two and had to settle with a 2-over 72. Day also sits tied for 16th, but like Scott, is a long way back.
Aaron Baddeley added a 73 to his first two rounds of 70 and 71. His round included a grandstand rocking chip-in birdie on a packed sixteenth green which echoed around the Pinehurst course. ‘Badds’ sits T23 going into Sunday.
However, the story of the day was again Kaymer. The German leaked a couple of shots throughout his round, but continued his remarkable tournament. Kaymer’s round was not without drama. He found himself in trouble off the fourth tee when he tugged his drive left. However after taking a penalty drop he managed to scramble for a great birdie after holing a 15-foot putt. Kaymer was straight back into the grove eagling the par-5 fifth. With scores of 65, 65 and 72, Kaymer sits at 8-under, five shots clear of his nearest rivals Rickie Fowler and Erik Compten. The tournament is still his to lose.
Australian Leaderboard
T16 SCOTT, Adam +3 F +2 73 67 73 213
T16 DAY, Jason +3 F +2 73 68 72 213
T23 BADDELEY, Aaron +4 F +3 70 71 73 214