Scott turns back clock in Tour Championship title tilt

Adam Scott has positioned himself within striking distance of a second PGA Tour Championship title after posting a steady third-round 65 at the Tour Championship in Atlanta, placing him in a tie for third, three strokes behind leader Viktor Hovland. The Australian, 46, is set to compete in the final round on Sunday (Monday AEST) as the tournament concludes its pursuit of the $10 million prize. Scott’s performance on Saturday was marked by exceptional putting, which proved crucial in his bid to close the gap on the leaders. He recorded 132 yards of putts, including several long-range efforts that resulted in three birdies on the eighth, 13th, and 17th holes. This effort brought him to a personal best for putting this year and placed him just three shots away from the top of the leaderboard. His ability to control the greens, typically a challenge for him, gave him renewed confidence ahead of the final round. Hovland, the Norwegian leader, maintained his position with a solid 65 of his own, turning a shared lead into a one-shot advantage over American Ryan Gerard, who posted a 66. With Hovland at 15 under par, Scott trails by three strokes, but the former Masters champion remains optimistic about his chances. “It's a good spot,” Scott remarked. “Within striking distance. It's so congested, though. It's going to need a really great round, I think. There's someone lurking who's going to have that.” Meanwhile, Min Woo Lee, the only other Australian in the elite 30-player field, remains an outside contender for victory. After a third-round 66, Lee sits equal ninth at 12 under par, needing to overcome a formidable group of top-tier players. Among them are world No.1 Scottie Scheffler, who shot a 66 to move up to 12 under, sharing third with fellow Americans Chris Gotterup and Russell Henley, along with Swedish golfer Ludvig Aberg. Rory McIlroy, the world No.2, made a notable surge on Saturday, finishing with a 63 to climb from 23rd to joint seventh place at 10 under. He joined forces with Cameron Young, who also managed a 68, while American trio Russell Henley, Jacob Bridgeman, and Sam Burns remained at nine under par. Scott, despite his age, appears unfazed by the competition. He emphasized his strategy for the final round, planning to remain relatively conservative during the early part of the course before potentially increasing his aggressiveness later. “I can kind of stick with my game plan of being fairly conservative at least for the front nine,” he said. “And if I can execute that, then maybe I've got to start flag hunting a little bit and being a bit more aggressive than I have been.” As the tournament heads toward its climax, the stage is set for a thrilling final round. With multiple contenders vying for the prestigious title, the outcome remains uncertain, and the spotlight remains firmly on the players competing for the ultimate prize.