Adam Scott is firmly in the mix to claim an elusive second major championship after finishing a brilliant US Open third round just one shot off the lead.
A composed Scott rebounded from a first-hole bogey with four birdies, including three on the back nine, in a stylish Saturday 3-under-par 67 at the fearsome Oakmont Country Club.
US Open
54 hole scores (selected)
1: Sam Burns (USA) – 4-underT2: Adam Scott (AUS) – 3-underT2: JJ Spaun (USA) – 3-under4: Viktor Hovland (NOR) – 1-under5: Carlos Ortiz (MEX) – Level parT11: Marc Leishman (US) – 4-overT21: Jason Day (AUS) – 5-over67: Cam Davis (AUS) – 19-over
Australia’s former world number one is only the third player in US Open history to start with three rounds of 70 or better at the tournament’s most demanding layout.
Curtis Strange achieved the feat in 1994 before Shane Lowry matched the record eight years ago.
Scott’s 70-70-67 start leaves the 2013 Masters champion just one stroke behind American leader Sam Burns, who carded a 1-under 69.
Burns’s compatriot JJ Spaun bogeyed the last hole in a round of 70 to join Scott at 3-under.
“It would be super-fulfilling,” Scott said.
“Everyone out here has got their journey. 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.”
For much of the day, Scott hovered at even par before exploding with three birdies in the last six holes on 13, 14 and 17.
At 44, Scott is bidding to become the second-oldest US Open winner of all time.
Victory would also place the Australian in the history books for the longest wait by a player between their first and second major championship triumph, after his previous win at the 2013 Masters.
And he has experience on his side, with Scott the only major winner sitting inside the top 10 entering Sunday’s final round (Monday AEST).
Contesting an extraordinary 96th consecutive major, Scott three-putted the opening hole in a deflating start.
But the veteran put the hiccup behind him to collect his first birdie of the day at the par-5 fourth hole.
Then he hit the go button down the stretch to be well-poised to break a five-year winless run since taking out a tournament in the Los Angeles Open in 2020.
Scott could have gone even better in round three, with a couple of birdie putts sliding just by.
ABC Sport Daily podcast
Norwegian Victor Hovland is outright fourth at 1-under after also shooting 70.
The quartet are the only players in red numbers.
Playing his first major since 2022, Monday qualifier Marc Leishman rocketed up the leaderboard with a birdie-filled round of 68 to be tied for 11th.
But the revitalised Australian looks a little too far back at 4-over and eight shots adrift of Burns, as is world number one Scottie Scheffler who could only manage an even-par third round after a wretched day on the greens.
Jason Day (72) is one shot further back in equal 21st.
AAP/ABC
