"VAN" (Sports Desk - 18.05.2025) :: It took a blistering finish from world No.1 Scottie Scheffler to turn Adam Scott’s chances of a second major championship from hopeful to nigh on impossible at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.
Scott was just four strokes off the lead when he signed for a 2-under 69 to be 4-under through three rounds but Scheffler further separated himself from Scott and the rest of the field by playing the final five holes in 5-under par.
At 11-under, Scheffler will start Sunday with a three-stroke advantage from Swede Alex Noren, Scott the best of the Aussies seven shots from the lead and in a tie for 13th.
With just one top 10 in his past 21 major championship starts, Scott was happy to nudge towards the first page of the leaderboard, looking towards a more productive day with the putter to advance his position further in the final round.
“That’s a good position for me,” said Scott when told he was four strokes back at the completion of his round.
“That’s better than where I’ve been any time lately.
“I feel like I’ve played solid all week; it’s been hard work on the greens.
“I’ve had a few three-putts, and it feels a bit costly at the moment when it’s so bunched up like this.
“Overall my game feels really solid. I just need a day where the putts get rolling in tomorrow.”
A three-putt from outside 50 feet at the 221-yard par-3 sixth was Scott’s only dropped shot on Saturday, getting up-and-down all five times that he missed the green including three-of-three sand saves.
Kiwi Ryan Fox fought hard to keep himself in the mix and will start the final round in a tie for 17th alongside Australian Cam Davis, who made up four shots in three holes on the back nine in a round of 1-under 70.
Tied for seventh through 36 holes, Fox could only salvage par twice from the seven greens he missed, trading six bogeys with five birdies in his round of 1-over 72.
Playing the weekend of a major for the first time in his career, Elvis Smylie played his back nine in 5-over 40 in a round of 6-over 77.
Victorian Richard Green will need to conjure something special on Sunday after his flatstick failed him in Round 3 of the Regions Tradition in Alabama.
Chasing his first PGA TOUR Champions win in the first senior major of the year, Green will start the final round five back due to a frustrating day on the greens in a round of 3-over 75.
The silky left-hander was even par through eight holes of the third round but a bogey on nine followed by a double-bogey due to two poor chips at the par-3 10th saw him dethroned from the top of the leaderboard.
He would par his way in as American Jerry Kelly (65) charged, Green unable to find any joy with the putter as he hit 15 of 18 greens in regulation.
The 54-year-old will start the final round in a share of 10th at 10-under par, Brisbane’s Michael Wright just one shot further back at 9-under on the back of a productive Round 3.
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