Australia&aposs Adam Scott has moved into fourth at the British Open but will need to shoot one of the rounds of week to overhaul Lee Westwood on the final day at Muirfield. Scott carded a one-under 70 in the third round of the British Open to rise to even par for the tournament, three shots behind England&aposs Westwood, who sits two strokes clear at the top of the leaderboard with just a day to play. Westwood showed plenty of fortitude on Saturday, overcoming four bogeys to post a 70 and remain ahead of Hunter Mahan and Tiger Woods, who are tied for second at one under overall. If Westwood shoots even par during Sunday&aposs fourth round, Scott will need at least a 67 to win outright, a score which only three players have matched or bettered this week in Scotland. But the 33-year-old Australian, who won the Masters in April and threw away the British Open title last year, should head into the final round at Muirfield with plenty of confidence after his best score of the tournament on Saturday. An impressive 20-foot putt on the last hole ensured he finished with five consecutive pars, although his challenge was undermined by bogeys at the fourth and 10th holes. Jason Day is the second-best placed Australian at the British Open after a one-over 72 left him at three over for the tournament, while Geoff Ogilvy (nine over overall), plus Peter Senior and Marcus Fraser (both 10 over) are all well off the pace. Westwood, who has never won a major tournament, was paired with Woods for the third round and the pair enjoyed an absorbing duel for the lead that culminated in late drama at the penultimate hole. A bogey at the 17th from Woods, who carded 72, and a birdie from Westwood handed the latter a two-shot cushion that he maintained on the final hole, much to the delight of the supporters gathered around the 18th, who gave the duo a rapturous reception. A wayward tee shot at the 16th had threatened to undo all Westwood&aposs hard work in a round that saw him eagle the fifth but he responded well with a long putt to avoid a double-bogey. Mahan joined Westwood and Woods as the only players under par with a round of 68. The world number 23 kept his cool to putt from distance for par on the 18th, one of 11 pars during his third round. With Muirfield&aposs fairways and greens remaining hard and fast, it will be hard for any player outside the top four to score enough birdies to claim the title but a quartet at one over will remain hopeful heading into Sunday. Argentina&aposs Angel Cabrera, who lost the 2013 Masters in a play-off to Scott, Henrik Stenson of Sweden and American pair Ryan Moore and Zach Johnson sit four shots behind Westwood, while Phil Mickelson and Italy&aposs Francesco Molinari are a further stroke back and will just about need a miracle to lift the British Open&aposs claret jug trophy.
Author: Omnisport