‘On a prayer’: Scott sails back into contention as wet weather douses British Open leaders

After declaring he needed to play one ‘hell of a round’ to contend for the British Open, Adam Scott will enter the final round at Troon with high hopes of an improbable triumph.

After declaring he needed to play one “hell of a round” to contend for the British Open, Adam Scott will enter the final round at Troon playing “on edge” as his hopes of an improbable triumph soared on Saturday as he moved to within four shots of the lead.

The Australian veteran made the most of favourable conditions when shooting a superb 66 and then watched as the leaderboard compressed when miserable weather hit later in the day, with Billy Horschel leading the tournament at 4-under.

But the steady rain drowned the hopes of Australia’s other contender Jason Day, who dropped down the leaderboard when shooting a five-over 76 in a disappointing day from last year’s British Open runner-up.

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As heavy rain arrived at Royal Troon on Saturday afternoon, it seemed fitting weather to welcome the return of the ‘Great White Shark’ Greg Norman to The Open, two years after he was snubbed by the R&A for his divisive role with LIV Golf.

There was a ruckus in 2022 when Greg Norman, despite being a dual-champion of the historic tournament, was not invited to celebrate the 150th Open at St Andrews due to his role as the face of the breakaway Saudi Arabian-backed tour.

But after the famous Australian broke his exile at The Masters in April when purchasing tickets to attend an event where he was runner-up three times, Norman is at Troon in an official capacity this weekend and was wearing an R&A badge.

Adam Scott is firmly in the running at the British Open. Picture: Harry How/Getty Images

Scott sits even with the card after shooting 5-under the card and will be hoping to make early inroads again on Sunday after a blazing start on Saturday gave him an outside chance.

Quizzed about what had made this British Open a roller coaster ride for so many, the 44-year-old said that you had to push the limits to succeed while dealing with the risk that playing on the edge could bring you undone.

“I was talking with someone about it yesterday (and) I think we play on the edge all the time. To win golf tournaments, not many guys are winning not playing very well,” he said.

“To beat all these players, you have to be there (at the edge), and a few guys every week are doing that, and the rest are making up the numbers.”

Australia's Adam Scott putts on the 18th green during his third round. Picture: Glyn Kirk/ AFP

After shooting a 6-over 77 in brutal conditions on Friday, Scott bore a “thousand yard” stare as he spoke to foxsports.com.au, haunted by the experience he had gone through.

After bogeys on the triangle of holes to start the back nine - 10 through 12 - the former world No.1 said he had to remind himself that he could play golf and that the trying conditions were bothering almost everyone, not just himself.

When the wind dipped late on Friday, Scott settled into rhythm and birdied 17 to ensure he made the cut, pumping his fist in defiance after the earlier ordeal.

“I mean, it’s a pride thing, honestly, to make the cut and be here for the weekend,” he said.

“But it’s now on a prayer that you’re thinking about winning the tournament. I’d have to go and shoot a hell of a round.”

Scott still probably needs a ‘Hail Mary’ and an ‘Our Father’ to clinch the Claret Jug for the first time, but having started Saturday 12 shots behind Shane Lowry, he is now within striking range after returning to the top 10.

But having considered himself out of it even after his birdie blitz on Saturday, perhaps a rendition of the Rosary might have been in order on Saturday night after dinner as a result.

Jason Day had a tough round. Picture: Harry How/Getty Images

The 14-time winner on the PGA Tour looked relaxed when he arrived at the course on Saturday for his pairing with Kiwi golfer Daniel Hillier and was in good spirits throughout a round played in mild conditions under an overcast sky.

Mindful of the ground he needed to make up, Scott played reasonably aggressively on the front nine, with birdies on the first two holes and then the 5th and the 7th to turn in 32.

“It’s hard to be aggressive and carefree at the links. You can get in a lot of trouble with a careless shot,” he said.

“I still think even though it’s gettable, certainly on the front nine, it’s more about execution. “You can get it without taking any risk if you pull off good shots and hit 4-irons down the fairway and good 9-irons into greens, (the) stuff you’re meant to do as a golf pro rather than just bomb and gouge it around. (It) took some discipline not to … completely attack the front nine today.”

The horrors of a day earlier did not bother him as he parred the 10 to 12 combination before drawing a roar from the crowd after converting a beautiful tee shot on the 180m Par 3 14th into a birdie.

A big roar from the gallery on 14 as Adam #Scott, after a superb tee shot, birdies the par 3 to move to even with the card, 5-under for the day. https://t.co/Gs7P2rDx6hpic.twitter.com/aDXdP1D5uZ

— Courtney Walsh (@walshcee) July 20, 2024

Scott had played blemish-free golf until the 15th and was unfortunate when a putt for par lipped out for his only bogey for the day.

But it did not douse his spirits. After Hillier made a lengthy birdie putt on the 16th, Scott gave him a nod of approval and a thumbs-up before snaring one for himself.

A very good round could have been even better when, on the 17th, a chip from off the green appeared on track until deviating at the final moment.

“It was good. You can’t really complain about 66, but when you’re so far back, you kind of need everyone possible,” Scott said.

“I think I got what I deserved out there. I played some fairly good golf and didn’t make too many errors.”

Day had made the most of the favourable weather on Friday but the tables turned on Saturday and the 2015 US PGA champion found the wet weather slippery when the rain shortly about 3pm on Saturday.

In contrast to Scott, he started slowly with bogeys on the first two holes but regained those shots with birdies on the fourth and the Postage Stamp at 8 to return to 1-under.

But Day, who declined to speak afterwards, was unable to retain his grip with the leaders on the back nine when making five bogeys to finish at 4-over.

Originally published as ‘On a prayer’: Scott sails back into contention as wet weather douses British Open leaders