Date: November 23, 2013
Author: Michael Huguenin, Omnisport

Scott still eyeing World Cup win

Adam Scott believes he and Australia have turned the corner at the World Cup of Golf after the third round at Royal Melbourne. Scott, who won the Australian Masters at Royal Melbourne last week, started the World Cup terribly at the same venue with a four-over 75 on Thursday. But a second consecutive round of 68 on Saturday has seen the 33-year-old Australian move back to two under overall with a day to play. While Scott never really got on a roll during the third round, with bogeys on the 8th and 16th holes stalling his momentum, he was thrilled with his bunker shots on 14 and 15, plus his close-range putting. “The one on 14 was really good. I didn&apost really give myself much of a chance there and I hit about a good a shot as I could and, yeah, it was a good day,” Scott said. “I mean, I feel like I&aposm putting well. I&aposm knocking the putts in that you want to make, all those ones, par saves and a few 10-footers that I got for birdie rolled in. “The putter is actually starting to feel pretty good, so if I can get the rhythm back in for tomorrow, you never know, it could be one of those days.” Australia finished the third round one shot in front at Royal Melbourne after Scott&aposs team-mate Jason Day produced a five-under 66 to move into the individual outright lead as well. The hosts will head into the final round at 11 under, one stroke ahead of defending champions the United States, while Japan are third at four under. But even before Day produced three birdies in the last five holes, Scott was confident of both Australia&aposs chances as well as his own – even though he will start the last round seven shots adrift of his Australian team-mate. “The team doesn&apost need to be that close,” Scott said. “You know, if we&aposre within five, we&aposre every chance tomorrow and personally I think if they&aposre not in double digits, I&aposve still got a chance to post a number tomorrow and win this tournament.” After a tough couple of days of putting at Royal Melbourne, Scott argued the greens were slightly easier to deal with on Saturday following rain in the lead-up to the third round. “They were just maybe slightly slower today because of the moisture just sitting on them but they were really nice to be honest so (I&aposm) kind of a little less stressed than yesterday,” the Adelaide-born golfer said.