Adam Scott put himself in position to keep his just-obtained world No.1 golf ranking – and win the $US6.4 million ($A6.92 million) US PGA Colonial tournament – after a bogey-free third round 66 that has him just two shots off the lead.
While Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama fired a sizzling six-under par 64 on Saturday to grab a share of first at seven-under with Americans David Toms, Chris Stroud and Chad Campbell, Scott remained well in the hunt.
In a packed leaderboard Scott still only had a share of 11th, along with countryman John Senden and five others.
Compatriot Marc Leishman was just a shot off the pace after a tidy 67 while Robert Allenby and Aaron Baddeley were also in contention, three from the lead.
With Sweden’s Henrik Stensen, who shared seventh entering the final round of the European PGA Championship at Wentworth, already breathing down Scott’s neck to take the top ranking, the 2013 US Masters champion knows there’s plenty of work to be done.
But he did his best to keep the mantle he took from Tiger Woods, birdies on three of the first four holes and 10 pars to close keeping him well placed.
“I’m feeling good,” Scott said. “I was executing how I wanted to come out. Everything went according to plan on the front. Unfortunately I couldn’t keep my momentum going.”
Scott, who supplanted Woods atop the world rankings on Monday, said he wasn’t particularly concerned about what went on in Europe.
“I can only worry about my golf here,” Scott said of Stenson possibly overtaking him. “Worrying about that isn’t going to help me at all.
“It’s all very tight. We know that. I’m happy to have gotten to number one. I hope it’s not such a short stay.”
While the 2013 Masters champion put himself into contention for the title in Sunday’s final round, Scott admits the challenge to win will be difficult because so many rivals are ahead of him.
“It’s going to be tough,” Scott said. “There’s a lot of people between me and the lead.”
Co-leader Matsuyama won four times on the Japan Tour last year and has two top-five efforts in his first US PGA season, a share of third at the Frys.com Open last year and a share of fourth in February at Phoenix.
In his past five starts, Matsuyama has struggled, missing two cuts, twice finishing outside the top 30 and withdrawing from the Honda Classic with a wrist injury.
Stroud birdied the final hole to shoot 69 and join the lead pack, Campbell shot 68 while Toms, the 2001 PGA Championship winner, fired a 65.
