Adam Scott on course to become Wizard of Oz with triple crown of homeland tournaments within reach

AUSTRALIAN Adam looks set to add the Australian Open to his collection of home land championships, with the PGA and Masters trophies already in his cabinet.

PATRIOTIC Adam Scott admits he is pinching himself as he homes in on winning Aussie golf’s triple crown of titles.

The Oz star goes into the final round of the Australian Open four shots ahead of Rory McIlroy – and he can’t quite believe it.

Scott has already cleaned up with the Australian PGA and Masters titles this month in front of his home crowd.

And he could add the Open at the Royal Sydney Golf Club is he keeps his nerve.

He said: “It is an unbelievable spot to be in. Before this month started, I hadn’t ever won two tournaments in a row so to have this opportunity is a bit unreal.

“If you’d told me a month ago, I wouldn’t have believed you.

“There’s one round to go but a lot can happen. Rory is a phenomenon and I’m sure he’s going to throw plenty at me ... but as long as the eye stays in with the putter, I think I should hold on.”

Scott’s third-round 68 included three birdies and two bogeys but it still helped him to 16-under-par and pull four shots clear of McIlroy who hit trouble early on in yesterday’s round.

The Northern Ireland star stumbled with a bogey on the fourth and a double bogey on the fifth, before recovering with four birdies between the seventh and 14th helping him to a round of 70.

But the pair are out on their own with Matthew Jones, Richard Green and Max McCardie in a three-way tie for third a further four shots behind McIlroy.

McCardie was the only one showing any form after firing a fine 69 while Jones and Green could only muster a 72 and 73 respectively.

McIlroy, 24, admits he has a difficult job to catch Scott – but didn’t rule it out.

He said: “It’s a tough ask. I played a good back nine but could have done better.

“But on this course there can be a lot of two-shot swings. If someone makes a couple of pars and someone gets off to a fast start and makes a birdie and an eagle, you’re right back in it.”

“There’s plenty of chances out there and it’s just a matter of taking your opportunities when they come.”

Another Aussie Stuart Appleby moved joint sixth with a round of 67 while Jason Day got himself into the top 10 with a 66 – the joint best round of the day.