Adam Scott won’t overthink a five-year title drought, admitting he still needs a final-round beauty after claiming his third Australian PGA Championship title.
The former world No. 1 and Masters champion shot 66 on Saturday and had eight birdies and three bogeys to briefly share the lead before entering the clubhouse at 11 under, tied for ninth.
Min-woo Lee, Marc Leishman, Anthony Quayle, Spain’s David Puig and Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia occupy spots on the leaderboard and could all be tied with or ahead of Scott.
Scott has 32 wins worldwide but has not won a 72-hole event since winning the Genesis Invitational in 2020.
The 45-year-old is adamant there will be more to come and showed enough evidence on Saturday that a third Kirkwood Cup is within reach.
“It’s hard to complain at 66,” he said, before adding that he wasn’t entirely satisfied with his day.
“I had to have a really good round.
“A strong front nine to get myself in there and then maybe, if I can get my name up there with seven or eight to go.
“But I have to put it away too. I’m chasing. I can’t delay. It’s so crowded and it’s going to be beautiful tomorrow.”
Scott was 4 under through nine holes before a two-hour rain delay and then birdied Nos. 12 and 13 to share the lead at 12 under.
He bogeyed the next hole, got one back on the 15th, then sent his wedge into the bunker on the par-3 17th and missed his test par putt.
“It’s not like I’m out there thinking about winning … but about checking all the boxes and getting better at things in the boxes,” he said of his thought process.
“But I’ve put myself in a decent position.”
