Feasting on birdies and home-made Polish delicacies, Adrian Meronk is out to shatter Adam Scott’s Australian Open hopes in a dream Sunday duel along with his boyhood idol.
Meronk admits he grew up idolising Scott and may’t wait to play the ultimate spherical with the previous world No.1 after the pace-setting pair opened up a spot on the chasing pack on Saturday.
“He is been my position mannequin since I used to be a baby,” Meronk mentioned after a course-record-equalling seven-under-par 63 left him only one shot behind the large residence hope.
Scott wanted an eagle three on the par-5 final for the second day operating to wrestle the lead again from Meronk, setting the scene for an intriguing final-round shootout between the 2 highest ranked gamers left within the subject.
Scott is chasing an elusive second Open victory 13 years after his first.
“Nicely, I consider I’ll do it,” he mentioned.
“However with out utilizing cliches, there is no level fascinated by my winner’s speech proper now. I’ve obtained an extended approach to navigate my spherical, get across the course.
“However I completely consider I’ll do it. In case you do not consider in it, then you definately will not do it.”
Meronk additionally believes.
And so he ought to.
The European Tour star’s extraordinary blitz on Victoria Golf Membership has yielded 19 birdies and an eagle in 40 holes since slumping to four-over halfway by way of his again 9 on Thursday.
His liking for Victoria stems from staying three minutes away along with his girlfriend’s cousins, making Meronk really feel “very a lot” at residence.
“It is very useful,” Meronk mentioned.
“We have had Polish meals for dinner each evening. We went to the town yesterday, walked round.
“Yeah, I am actually having fun with the time in Australia, particularly in Melbourne.”
Scott, too, believes he is prepared for any problem that comes his approach down the stretch.
“I’ve obtained to exit and do a lot of the identical stuff I did (on Saturday) and, if I get a few good numbers and the putts drop, I do know when to problem and when to carry again a little bit,” he mentioned.
Scott’s countrymen Min Woo Lee and Haydn Barron share third at seven underneath, 4 pictures behind the chief.
Within the ladies’s occasion being held concurrently for the primary time, Korean former world No.1 Jiyai Shin can be eyeing a second Open title and holding a one-shot third-round lead.
Shin will tee off at 14 underneath, with South African Ashleigh Buhai 13 underneath and Australian Hannah Inexperienced 12 underneath in what seems a three-way battle between the trio of main champions.