Time for Tiger to deviate from plan?

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LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England -- Adam Scott sits 4 shots clear of the field at the Open Championship with only 18 holes left to play. The Aussie, who has never been in this situation, will play the final round with 2010 U.S. Open winner Graeme McDowell.

And then there's Tiger Woods, sitting 5 shots back but with only three players above him on the leaderboard.

So how might the final round play out? Our experts in England break down all the happenings from the Open Championship.

1. Does Tiger stick with his game plan in the final round?

Farrell Evans, ESPN.com senior golf writer: Tiger has to stick with his game plan. He's only going to get into trouble by getting more aggressive. He can't hit his driver straight enough to stay out of the bunkers and the fescue. And he hasn't practiced to play the course in an aggressive fashion. So he's not going to start doing it on Sunday. He'll take his chances with what he had when he showed up.

Bob Harig, ESPN.com senior golf writer: It depends on the conditions. If it's windy, he should stick with what he's doing, because mistakes will be made at Royal Lytham with a strong wind. If not, he'll need to get more aggressive. You can't expect Scott to collapse.

Gene Wojciechowski, ESPN.com senior national columnist: He's 5 strokes back using his plan. Everything depends on the weather and what Scott does during the first nine holes of the final round.

2. Give us someone outside the final two pairings who could make it interesting Sunday evening.

Farrell Evans, ESPN.com senior golf writer: Zach Johnson. The former Masters champion has two wins and two seconds on the PGA Tour this season. At 5-under, he has a chance to sneak into a playoff if Scott stumbles a bit.

Bob Harig, ESPN.com senior golf writer: Ernie Els. He's right there again at Royal Lytham. He has played seven rounds in the 60s at Lytham in three Open appearances and finished tied for second (1996) and tied for third (2001). He might be too far back (6 shots), but a dream round could mean a fourth major and second Claret Jug for the Big Easy.

Gene Wojciechowski, ESPN.com senior national columnist: Why not Ernie Els or Zach Johnson? Els says he has put in a lot of work on his game and he feels there's a low round in him.

3. Tiger has never won a major coming from behind. Can he do it Sunday?

Farrell Evans, ESPN.com senior golf writer: Tiger has won 74 PGA Tour events, including 14 majors. He can do anything he wants to do on a golf course.

Bob Harig, ESPN.com senior golf writer: Sure he can. The fact he's never come from behind is one of the biggest flukes ever. He didn't need to because he was always tied or in sole possession of the lead. But certainly a mid-60s round on a tough day with others faltering is not a stretch.

Gene Wojciechowski, ESPN.com senior national columnist: Of course, he can do it. He'll have to play well and Scott will have to stumble and fall. And I'm not discounting more than a few names on that leaderboard. But again, the expected wind gusts could change the entire leaderboard dynamic.

4. Who's kissing the Claret Jug on Sunday?

Farrell Evans, ESPN.com senior golf writer: Tiger Woods. He's going to shoot 30 on the front and 34 on the back for a 64 to win by 2 shots.

Bob Harig, ESPN.com senior golf writer: Adam Scott. This is the position he always has strived to get to and has finally done it. He rarely has contended in majors, but can draw on his strong play at the 2010 Masters. And 4 strokes is a nice cushion.

Gene Wojciechowski, ESPN.com senior national columnist: Scott's heart rate seems like it's beating very slowly. But if he suffers an unexpected collapse, I like the toughness of McDowell.

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