Adam Scott knows he needs a golfing miracle to have any hope of winning the 150th British Open at St Andrews.
Adam Scott accepts he probably needs to equal the lowest round in British Open history to have any hope of stealing the Claret Jug.
Scott staged a late rally on his 42nd birthday to post a two-under-par 70 on Saturday and remain in a share of eighth spot after the third round.
But, at nine under and seven strokes adrift of frontrunners Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland, Scott admits only a final-round 62 on Sunday will likely be enough to give himself a chance.
South African Branden Grace carded a 62 in the third round at Royal Birkdale in 2017, leaving Scott clinging to a slither of hope.
"I know it's not been done in the Open here, but it's possible," he said.
"Guys early today were really shooting some numbers. It's just not easy getting it in the clubhouse.
"I mean, the pins are probably harder (here). There are more hard pins on the way round, kind of preventing you from getting it really low but you never know - you can make long putts around here."
At least Scott can dream after the 2012 Open runner-up almost shot himself out of contention early in his round.
"I just didn't hit good enough shots early on. Just a hair off," Scott said.
"Drove it in a bunker early on four and did well to make bogey. Then a poor shot off seven and not a good recovery shot and an even worse putt and did well to make another bogey.
"It just didn't go the way I needed it to go the first seven holes today. That has to change tomorrow if I want to dream of playing with anything on the line on the back nine."
No player has ever come from more than four shots back entering the final round on Sunday at St Andrews to snatch the Claret Jug.
But of all the courses on the Open rota, Scott believes the Old Course offers the best chance for the chasers to post a special low number on Sunday.
"Because it gives you so many opportunities, like eagle opportunities," he said.
"It's possible that you have four or five eagle opportunities if things go your way.
"I don't know if it's been done. But if you happen to make three eagles out there, you're look like having a pretty good score, I reckon."
