2013 US PGA Championship: Scott struggles but still within striking distance

Adam Scott trails leader Jim Furyk by four shots but is still a chance of making history tomorrow.

Adam Scott produced one of the highlights of the 2013 US PGA Championship at the short par-4 14th hole during today’s third round. Scott ultimately struggled to hold his game together who is not just aiming to win his second major but become the first Australian to win two majors in one year.

Scott didn’t bring his best game with him to Oak Hill today. After making a birdie at the first, Scott made consecutive bogeys at the second and third holes.

When he arrived at the 323-yard 14th hole, Scott was in danger of losing touch with the leaders. Furyk was making birdie after birdie to take the lead and Jason Dufner and Henrik Stenson were chasing close behind.

Scott pulled out driver and hit a magnificent tee shot hit the green and set up an eagle putt. A tap-in birdie followed but it was to be a short-lived highlight from Scott.

He made an awkward two putt par at the 15th hole before finding trouble at the relatively straight forward 16th hole that saw Scott card a double-bogey, his first for the tournament and one that could prove costly.

Scott sits in a tie for fifth place trailing leader Jim Furyk by four shots. A shot further back is overnight leader Jason Dufner who somehow managed to get the ball to sneck in the back door of the hole on the 18th and give himself a chance at major championship redemption tomorrow.

The surprise packet of the week has been the form of Jonas Blixt. The 23-year-old Swede has looked extremely comfortable on the PGA Tour after a breakout year in 2012 where he won the Frys Open and after an erratic start to 2013, he won the Greenbrier Classic last month.

Blixt took the clubhouse lead early in the third round courtesy of a bogey-free 4-under 66. He will tee off in the penultimate group with fellow Swede Henrik Stenson who will follow Adam Scott and Steve Stricker into the final round.

Australians Marc Leishman and Jason Day sit nine shots behind the leader on even par but are too far behind for a realistic chance of winning. Fellow Australian Marcus Fraser looked set for his best finish in a major but struggled on the drier Oak Hill layout to card a 5-over 75 and a shot behind Day and Leishman on 1-over par for the tournament.

Australian TV coverage of the 2013 US PGA Championship final round starts on FoxSports 3 tonight at 4am AEST. 

Adam Scott tees off at 4:35am Australian EST.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *