As the final round approaches, Adam Scott stands out as the sole player in contention with a major title, which he secured at the 2013 Masters by defeating Ángel Cabrera in a dramatic playoff. In the third round at Oakmont, Scott impressed with a 3-under 67, narrowing the gap to just one shot behind the leader, mirroring his consistent performance at Augusta where he also shot a 3-under 69.
At 44, Scott is the oldest in the field and is now faced with the challenge that no player over 40 has claimed a major victory since Phil Mickelson won the PGA Championship at age 50 in 2021. Furthermore, only Payne Stewart has triumphed in a US Open after turning 40, achieving this feat in 1999.
Despite these statistics, Scott carries the unique experience of having lifted a major trophy, a significant psychological advantage. Last year, he twice finished as a runner-up, including at the BMW Championship, yet he has not achieved a top-10 finish this year.
Reflecting on his recent performance, Scott noted an improvement in his driving accuracy over the past month, which he hopes will lead to more success across his game. He remarked, “I’ve slowly done it. I’m not exactly firing on all cylinders, but it’s a nice thing having some confidence coming into tomorrow.”
This week’s tournament marks Scott’s 96th consecutive major appearance, extending his record for the longest active streak and placing him second overall, trailing only behind Jack Nicklaus’s remarkable streak of 146.
In contrast, the other four players below par heading into the final round—Sam Burns, JJ Spaun, Viktor Hovland, and Carlos Ortiz—collectively hold only 63 major appearances, highlighting Scott’s extensive experience on the big stage. As the pressure mounts, Scott aims to draw upon his past successes and capitalize on the moment in a bid for his second major title.