Scott and Williams set for final-day battle at Open
Related articles
Less than a year after hiring golf's most successful caddie in a bid to end his long wait for a first major title, Australian Adam Scott hopes he is just 18 holes from achieving his dream at Royal Lytham tomorrow.
But, even though he holds a four-stroke lead going into the last leg of the Open Championship, the 31-year-old knows the toughest part is still to come.
And, despite the quality of those just behind him, Scott also knows the biggest battle is with himself.
Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell, up into joint second with American Brandt Snedeker after a superb 67, came from three shots back on the final day to win the 2010 US Open and only last month was one putt away from forcing a play-off in the same event.
And then there is Tiger Woods one stroke further back in fourth place. He senses a chance to grab his fourth Claret Jug and 15th major four traumatic years after he last tasted success at the highest level.
New Zealander Steve Williams is the man on Scott's bag and he helped Woods win 13 of his 14 majors before being sacked last summer.
Williams made no secret of how angry he was about that after staying with Woods throughout his sex scandal and when Scott won a world championship last August he called it "the best win of my life".
Then three months later at a caddie awards dinner in China Williams aimed what he later admitted could be construed as a racist comment about his former boss.
They have done battle face-to-face since then in the Presidents Cup, with one win for each of them, but not in a major. It could be some day.
Taking advantage of Snedeker running into all sorts of problems following his major-record-equalling first two rounds, Scott moved to 11 under par and back out in front with a 68.
His 199 total is only one outside the championship record set by Tom Lehman on the Lancashire links in 1996.
Latest in Sport
Sport blogs
iBet: Look To The Lady In The Prince Of Wales
The Prince of Wales Stakes today is regarded by many as the No1 race of the Royal Ascot meeting and ...
by Gareth Purnell
19 June 2013 02:01 AM
iBet: Favourites have a good record in the Coventry stakes
Today’s St James Palace looks a cracker and there has been sustained money for Dawn Approach since t...
by Gareth Purnell
18 June 2013 02:01 AM
Newcastle don’t need a football director – they need a new medical team after finishing bottom of the injury league
Newcastle United have shocked their fans by appointing Joe Kinnear as director of football but new f...
by Alex Miller
17 June 2013 04:39 PM
-
ACT Brumbies v British and Irish Lions - player ratings
-
Premier League fixture list unveiled: David Moyes and Jose Mourinho on an early collision course
-
Liverpool expected to complete deal for £6m Spanish winger Luis Alberto in next 48 hours
-
In pictures: Royal Ascot 2013 - Opening day
-
Exclusive: Cristiano Ronaldo advised to stay at Real Madrid for further 18 months before making possible switch to Manchester United
- 1 Disability campaigners celebrate 'victory' after government rethink over plans to make it more difficult to claim disability benefits
- 2 Bankers could face jail after report urges the Government to introduce new criminal offence for reckless management
- 3 Breaking the Silence: In the reality of occupation, there are no Palestinian civilians – only potential terrorists
- 4 We never knew Nigella Lawson - and we still don’t
- 5 Vice pulls 'breathtakingly tasteless' fashion shoot glorifying the suicides of famous female authors from Sylvia Plath to Virginia Woolf
How will you make today delicious?
Tell us how you plan to make today delicious and you could win a £50 M&S gift card.
Win a Nook® Simple Touch eReader
Find out how Nook® is supporting the Evening Standard's Get Reading campaign - and your chance to win one.
Free reading festival for families
Follow The Standard's campaign to get London's children reading - and experience this unique event at Trafalgar Square on 13 July.
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Career Services
Day In a Page
First night: The Cripple of Inishmaan
Scandi-geeks descend on Nordicana for fan-convention
Female aristocrats battle to inherit the title




Comments