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SYDNEY: Australia's Adam Scott moved two strokes clear of compatriot Stuart Appleby as the Australian Open developed into a two-horse race after the third round here on Saturday.
Scott, the winner of 14 tournaments worldwide, including six on the US PGA Tour, has rarely produced his best golf at home and remains winless in Australia since turning professional in 2000.
But Scott, 29, is poised to break through and claim his national Open after firing a five-under-par 67 on Saturday to overtake Appleby, who had gone 12-under for the opening two rounds.
Scott heads into Sunday's final 18 holes of the coastal New South Wales course on 15-under 201, and with the edge over 38-year-old Appleby, who won the Australian Open in 2001.
Appleby fought back from a shaky start, scrambling a par on the 18th hole after taking two shots to get out of a greenside bunker to card a one-under 71 and lie two back on 13-under 203.
There are another five strokes to the nearest challenger, Australian Nick O'Hern, on eight-under 208 after a one-under 71.
Scott had his worst-ever season on the US PGA Tour this year, while Florida-based Appleby has to rely on his past performances to retain his card for 2010 after a dreadful year by his standards.
But one of them can finish the year on a high note with victory in their national open championship.
"It's there for me with a good round tomorrow," Scott told reporters after birdying his final two holes to grab the outright lead.
"For an Aussie, it's like the next major in a sense. It'd mean a lot to me at any point, but I think it'd be great coming off a pretty ordinary year.
"If I had the chance to win I'd certainly savour it for a while."
Scott is eagerly anticipating another duel with Appleby in the final round.
"It was great to see us both go out there and play good today," he said.
"We've both had poor years. We're a fair way out in front and it could be us getting the gloves off and having a bit of a ding-dong (battle) tomorrow hopefully."
Two-time major champion American John Daly dropped out of calculations with a six-over 78 on Saturday to trail Scott by 18 shots on three-over 219 and lie in joint 36th place.
American David Oh was the best of the overseas contingent in joint fifth on six-under 210 after a third round three-under 69.
- AFP/so
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