Adam Scott shoots 64, rallies for fourth place finish at U.S. Open
UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. — Trailing by seven strokes after three rounds, former UNLV star Adam Scott said he still could contend for the U.S. Open championship Sunday at Chambers Bay.
The former Rebel nearly came through on that claim, shooting a 6-under-par 64 that catapulted him from 20th to fourth place. Scott (277) finished 3 under for the tournament, just two strokes behind champion Jordan Spieth (275).
“I needed to make a run today,” Scott said after the round. “I felt like I had nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
Scott’s round, which featured six birdies and no bogeys, was the lowest of the tournament at Chambers Bay and the 34-year-old’s best round of 2015.
Scott finished with 31 putts, 12 of 14 fairways hit and 17 greens in regulation Sunday.
With birdies on the par-4 second hole, par-4 seventh and par-5 eighth, Scott cruised to the turn with a 3-under 32. He birdied the par-4 11th for the first time this week and the par-4 16th for the second time.
After knocking close an eagle putt from off the par-5 18th green, Scott sank a 5-footer to close his round with a birdie.
“I knew if I could get the ball in the fairway, I’d have the chance to take advantage of some of these pins,” Scott said. “That’s kind of what I needed to do to even think about having a chance. You never know what can happen in these events.”
As he walked off the course about 5 p.m. Sunday, Scott was within one stroke of then-co-leaders Dustin Johnson, Branden Grace and Spieth. Less than an hour later, South African Louis Oosthuizen (276) finished with six birdies in the final seven holes to pull ahead of Scott and tie for second with Johnson.
Scott said he hopes Sunday’s performance will “get things going,” in time for next month’s British Open at the Old Course at St. Andrews. Before Sunday, Scott had posted his worst six-month stretch since turning pro in 2000, with two missed cuts and only one top-10 finish since January.
“I’ve been working hard at putting it all together,” he said. “You have to put all that frustration aside and keep your patience, and I did that well this week.”
Scott’s next event likely will be the British Open, from July 16 to 19. He is not scheduled for any tournaments until then.
Summerlin resident Kevin Na shot a 4-over 74 on Sunday to finish tied in 46th place at 8-over 288.
Na is scheduled to play next week at the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Conn.
Contact Chris Kudialis at ckudialis@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283. Find him on Twitter: @kudialisrj.