The young Australian leads a tight pack of tour winners in pursuit of the best prize money of the year.
By BOB HARIG
Published March 28, 2004
PONTE VEDRA BEACH - There will be no major-championship hardware to lift, although the cash going to the winner could be just as heavy. There will be no grand slam title to put on the resume, although a victory today, in many ways, would be just as significant.
Just ask any of the players vying for the $1.44-million winner's check in the final round of the Players Championship at the TPC-Sawgrass Stadium Course, which is playing every bit the part of a major-championship venue.
Australia's Adam Scott put himself in position Saturday for the most important win of his young career, shooting 3-under-par 69 for 206 and a two-shot lead over Frank Lickliter (68) and Kevin Sutherland (73).
But lurking three behind were heavy hitters Ernie Els (72) and Phil Mickelson (70), tied for fourth with Kenny Perry (69), Paul Stankowski (66) and Jerry Kelly (74).
"There is a certain feel among the players about the prestige of this tournament," Mickelson said. "And you feel it when you're in the locker room. You see guys who have won and their clubs and their plaques are up on the wall. From a player's point of view, this is as prestigious as any of the four majors, and that's why it is so important."
Scott, 23, was a teenager a decade ago when countryman and idol Greg Norman won the tournament in record-setting fashion, shooting 24-under 264. Scott has since emerged as one of Australia's top players.
He captured his first PGA Tour victory last fall at the Deutsche Bank Championship. He also has three victories on the European PGA Tour.
"I think the atmosphere is unbelievable around this place," said Scott, who was at 206, 10 under par. "It gets so rowdy around (Nos.) 16, 17, 18. It's actually pretty fun listening to it all."
Scott, however, does not expect to waltz to victory today. The top 11 players on the leaderboard have won PGA Tour events. Els and Vijay Singh, who was four shots back, have won major championships.
Lurking six back was Tiger Woods, who flirted with a great round before closing with two bogeys and settling for 68.
"That's good for me, obviously," Scott said. "He's probably going to be off an hour or so before. And he can get some birdies in before that, and we've seen him charge up the leaderboard before. I wouldn't be surprised if he does."
There were plenty of charges and retreats Saturday. Craig Parry vaulted from the cut line to contention with 64, which left him tied for ninth. Second-round co-leader Kelly birdied the first two holes, made double bogey at the third and made no more birdies to drop into a tie for fourth.
Sutherland, the other second-round co-leader, was given wrong information in the 16th fairway from an official who said he could not ground his club behind his ball in a sand divot. Sutherland could have grounded his club, as long as he didn't improve his lie. That led to a poor shot and bogey.
"I'm having to hold my club 2 inches off the ground as opposed to a normal shot," he said. "That was disappointing. It would have been nice to know then what I know now." Then there is this subplot: Two players among the top four have not been invited to the Masters but would earn a three-year pass by winning the Players Championship. That's Lickliter and Stankowski, who has not won on the PGA Tour since 1997 and has played in just one major since 1998.
Scott, who many believe has a swing that mirrors Woods', has five worldwide victories, including one on the South African tour, and each time has led or shared the lead going into the final round. If he pulls it off today, he won't have a major championship, but it will feel very close.
"It's really just a test on yourself," he said. "If it's tight coming down the last few holes, then you really find out if all the hard work you've been doing is going to pay off. I feel like I'm doing the right stuff, so I'm pretty confident that I could get it done."
