Australian Open duel between battling stars

The 2009 Australian Open has come down to a two-horse race between two thoroughbreds battling to get their careers back on track.

Likeable locals Adam Scott and Stuart Appleby staged a terrific head-to-head clash at NSW Golf Club in the third round on Saturday and, after 18 enthralling holes, Scott had his nose in front at 15-under par following a five-under round of 67.

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.

Scott Hend (80) was the forgotten man of the final group, never featuring after he dropped six shots in his first five holes, while Nick O’Hern (71) is the nearest challenger, five strokes behind Appleby.

That almost certainly leaves Scott and Appleby alone to fight it out as the latter chases a second Stonehaven Cup after his 2001 triumph and the former eyes a drought-breaking first victory on home soil.

Scott had his worst ever season on the US PGA Tour in 2009, while 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 erase a lot of those disappointments on Sunday in the first Open held at the La Perouse course.

“It’s there for me with a good round tomorrow,” Scott told reporters shortly after birdieing 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 looked like giving back the advantage after he carded back-to-back bogeys on the 15th and 16th holes.

They were his first blemishes in a bogey-free 39-hole stretch spanning the first and third rounds.

The Queenslander 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 shitty 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.”

While he is anxious to claim his first national championship, Scott should have no trouble sleeping.

He had a 4.15am wake-up call on Saturday morning so he could finish the final 12 holes of his second round before beginning his third.

“There aren’t too many 4.15 calls, not even for a surf,” he said.

“That’s an early one. I should’ve slept in the clubhouse.”

© 2010 AAP