The Open 2012: Adam Scott consolidates lead as Tiger Woods and Graeme McDowell hang on to his coat-tails Indeed, never would the runaway leader of an Open have felt such a bystander as the lenses focused and the bulbs flashed when Woods shook hands with Steve Williams. The former sacked the latter last year and the latter issued a racial slur a few months later. It is a distraction Scott could do without as he focuses on an overdue first major. If he manages it, Scott would be the third in the last four major winners to use a long putter. The traditionalists would be up in arms; the game's governing bodies would be urged to introduce the ban which has been mooted. For some, it would taint Scott's major breakthrough, the first by an Australian in six years. But the broom is legal and therefore he cannot be faulted. Scott has used it to great effect this week. He made some gutsy par saves and genuinely impressed. Yet Scott knows this is far from over. He was in floods of tears when he sat at home and watched his hero Norman concede a six-shot advantage to Nick Faldo at the 1996 Masters. Their score when they began that bloodiest of one-sided duels? Norman was on 13-under, Faldo was on seven-under. Very similar and it would be very eerie if the Aussie torture replayed. Certainly the fate of his playing partner would have emphasised to Scott how it can all change. The links giveth and the links taketh away. Brandt Snedeker went his first 40 holes without a bogey; then recorded five in the next seven holes. Snedeker went the first 41 holes without visiting a bunker; then landed in three in the next five holes. Eventually he signed for a 73, nine worse than his magnificence on Friday. At least he sank a long putt for a birdie on the last with which to console himself. It was a rough day for the halfway pacesetter but on seven-under alongside McDowell he is obviously still in within a chance. Shots can disappear even quicker when the elements are raging. The conditions were benign again on Saturday, but with the pins tucked away, Royal Lytham still presented a formidable test. Zach Johnson responded best, his 66 taking him to five-under, alongside the evergreen veteran Ernie Els in a tie for fifth. It has been another fine Lytham Open for the Americans, with six representatives in the top 10. The Euros are only represented by McDowell and young Thorbjorn Olesen. The 22-year-old Dane was not overawed by partnering Woods, shooting a 71 containing four birdies. He is clearly one for the future. The English challenge is in tatters. So much for that all home hope coming into the 141st Open. Luke Donald, the world No 1, is best placed on one-under after a lacklustre round, while Lee Westwood, the world No 3, is on four-over after a 71. Rory McIlroy, meanwhile, is on five-over after a 73. His Open is effectively over and he will spend most of his round thinking about his great friend's challenge. Can McDowell do a Faldo? Perhaps. But in his mind he will be trying to emulate Seve Ballesteros. He arrived on the Fylde Coast enthused by the Spaniard's spirit "Before I got here, I watched this documentary about Seve, who has always been one of my great heroes, and it was truly inspirational stuff," said McDowell. Everyone remembers how he famously made birdie from the temporary car-park on 16 when he won his first of two Opens at Lytham. But there was so much more to love about what he did here. Added McDowell: "I was particularly impressed by a scene when someone pointed out that Lytham is notorious for its pot bunkers, and they had to be avoided at all costs. Seve just pumped out his chest and said something like, 'Don't even mention such things to me - don't you know that I am the finest bunker player in all the world. "I thought to myself, 'Yes, that's the mindset you need for Lytham, GMac - positive as hell.""