Scott, Na appear out of contention in U.S. Open
UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. — Former UNLV star Adam Scott and Summerlin resident Kevin Na were two of four players with ties to the Las Vegas valley left in the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay Golf Club, but neither made much of a move on the leaders Saturday.
Scott, who started the day in 21st place at 1-over-par 141, shot a third-round 72 and is at 3-over 213 entering today’s final round.
After bogeying the par-4 fourth hole, Scott responded with a birdie on the par-3 eighth to finish at par on the front nine. Bogeys on 10 and 13 put Scott at 2 over for the round, and he finished with five straight pars.
Scott is tied for 20th place, seven strokes behind co-leaders Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Branden Grace and Jason Day. But Scott said he still thinks he can challenge the leaders.
“I’m playing good. I just need to put 18 holes together without a mistake,” he said. “With a good score, I can give myself a look at it.”
To win, Scott would have to match the best Sunday comeback in U.S. Open history, set in 1960 by Arnold Palmer at Cherry Hills Country Club. 1973 champion Johnny Miller made up six strokes to beat John Schlee at Oakmont Country Club, but no other player in U.S. Open history has made up more than five strokes to win on the final day.
Scott ranks first in the field in driving distance, crushing his average drive 344.5 yards – over 10 yards more than second-place Charlie Beljan, according to USGA statistics. But 94 of Scott’s 213 strokes have come on the putting green.
At 1.74 putts per hole, Scott’s numbers are near-average among the 75 remaining players.
“I’ll obviously need to putt better,” Scott said. “I left myself two 4-footers above the hole today. I’ve hit some great putts that just haven’t gone in this week.”
Na shot 2-over 72 Saturday and is at 4-over 214.
Na opened his round with a bogey on the par-4 first hole, then negated two birdies on the par-3 third hole and the par-4 fifth with a double bogey on the par-4 sixth.
An errant tee shot on the par-4 seventh left Na in knee-high fescue rough, producing one of two bogeys on the last three holes of a 3-over 38 front nine. He had three birdies and two bogeys on the back nine for a 1-under 34.
“I got off to a decent start, but that one bad swing hurt my momentum,” Na said of his tee shot on the seventh hole.
Na, tied for second with 15 birdies through three rounds, is hoping a 2-under performance today can catapult him into the top 10.
“It’s not looking good, but I guess you never know,” he said. “I’m just going to give it all I got and enjoy myself.”
Na said his experience at the links-style Chambers Bay will serve him well for the British Open, which begins July 16. He said the course is playing more difficult than any links course overseas.
As dried-out greens have damaged Chambers Bay’s fescue surfaces, putts are losing control on the sand foundation, Na said.
“There isn’t enough grass on them right now,” he said. “It’s mostly dirt out there. At least at the British, there’s grass.”
Contact Chris Kudialis at ckudialis@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283. Find him on Twitter: @kudialisrj.
