ADAM SCOTT MADE a jittery start to the final round of the British Open on Sunday with two bogeys sandwiched around a birdie in the first three holes.
That resulted in his four-stroke overnight lead being cut back to three as American Brandt Snedeker, at seven under, parred his first five holes.
Ulsterman Graeme McDowell, who started four behind Scott, dropped one at the second, while both Ernie Els and Zach Johnson dropped back a stroke to four over, where they found Louis Oosthuizen, who moved up from two under at the start of the day.
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Despite the tricky winds, Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts showed that low-scoring was a distinct possibility as he came in with a five-under 65 to take the clubhouse lead at one-under 279.
World No. 3 Lee Westwood of England came in with a 72 to stand at six over, while Rory McIroy limped away from Lytham after a closing 73 to finish near the bottom of the field at at nine over.
Meanwhile, Tiger Woods saw his hopes of a 15th major title take a crippling blow when he took a triple-bogey seven at Royal Lytham’s tough sixth hole in the final round of the British Open on Sunday.
The 36-year-old American sent his approach shot into one of the deepest of the course’s 206 pot bunkers, where it landed nearly flush up against the near vertical, layered front face.
After a pause for consideration, he attempted to blast it out but only succeeded in hitting the surface and had to jump sharply out of the way to avoid the ball hitting him, which would have incurred him a penalty stroke.
He then had to get down on his knees to narrowly hack out of the trap on his second effort and winced, holding his often-injured left knee, as he stood back up again.
Woods took three putts to get down from there and from four strokes behind leader Adam Scott he had slipped to seven back, leaving him with a mountain to climb to reel in the Australian.
The Open 2012: Jittery start for leader Scott, bunker blues for Woods
ADAM SCOTT MADE a jittery start to the final round of the British Open on Sunday with two bogeys sandwiched around a birdie in the first three holes.
That resulted in his four-stroke overnight lead being cut back to three as American Brandt Snedeker, at seven under, parred his first five holes.
Ulsterman Graeme McDowell, who started four behind Scott, dropped one at the second, while both Ernie Els and Zach Johnson dropped back a stroke to four over, where they found Louis Oosthuizen, who moved up from two under at the start of the day.
Despite the tricky winds, Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts showed that low-scoring was a distinct possibility as he came in with a five-under 65 to take the clubhouse lead at one-under 279.
World No. 3 Lee Westwood of England came in with a 72 to stand at six over, while Rory McIroy limped away from Lytham after a closing 73 to finish near the bottom of the field at at nine over.
After a pause for consideration, he attempted to blast it out but only succeeded in hitting the surface and had to jump sharply out of the way to avoid the ball hitting him, which would have incurred him a penalty stroke.
He then had to get down on his knees to narrowly hack out of the trap on his second effort and winced, holding his often-injured left knee, as he stood back up again.
Woods took three putts to get down from there and from four strokes behind leader Adam Scott he had slipped to seven back, leaving him with a mountain to climb to reel in the Australian.
Read: The Open 2012: McIlroy’s Open campaign ends lamely>
Read: Carlos Tevez caddies for Andres Romero at the Open>
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Adam Scott Brandt Snedeker British Open Ernie Els Graeme McDowell latest Louis Oosthuizen Open Championship The Open 2012 Zach Johnson