Aussie Scott seizes three-stroke lead at Byron Nelson PGA

Australia's Adam Scott birdied two of the last three holes here Saturday to stretch his lead to three strokes after the third round of the 6.4 million-dollar PGA Byron Nelson Championship.

Scott fired a three-under par 67 to stand on eight-under par 208 after 54 holes, three strokes ahead of a US foresome that includes Bart Bryant, Kevin Sutherland, Ryan Moore and Charley Hoffman.

"I'm a world class player, but there are a bunch of world class players just behind me. I'm not expecting those guys to lie down," Scott said.

Spain's Sergio Garcia fired a 65 to stand another shot off the pace at 206 along with American Dudley Hart and Sweden's Jesper Parnevik.

Scott, the highest-ranked player in the field at 10th in the world, took a bogey at the par-three second hole, answered with birdies at the fourth and fifth but gave back another stroke with a bogey at the eighth.

The Aussie veteran, who began the day with a one-stroke edge, began the back nine with a birdie and added another at the par-five 16th before closing with a birdie to solidify his spot atop the leaderboard.

"I never really got going on the front nine and let everyone catch up," Scott said. "But I knew a solid back nine would do me good and starting off with a birdie on 10 set me up.

"(Birdies on) 16 and 18 were a key way to finish the day, a couple of really nice wedge shots. It makes for a little bit of momentum going into tomorrow."

Scott, 27, suffered last-round meltdowns last month at Miami and last June at Memphis in hopes of breaking through with a triumph.

"I won the first 10 tournaments of my career from the front (but) I've let a few slip lately, so I think I've got something to prove," Scott said.

"I came here to get in contention and win. I've been playing well this year and haven't quite done it, so I'm pushing myself a little bit to do that.

"Tomorrow is an important day."

Bryant and Sutherland shot 67s while Hoffman and Moore fired 68s. Sutherland led much of the day but finished with back-to-back bogeys.

"The last three holes were disappointing," said Sutherland, whose lone tour triumph was at the World Golf Championships Match Play Championship.

"I had a good chance for birdie on 16 and then made two bogeys coming in. I've got to remember what I did before that. I played a lot of really solid golf and feel really good about how I was playing."

Bryant said Sutherland, 48th on the money list, could still be the man to beat if he can overcome his horrid final holes.

"He probably would have run away with this thing if he had had a hot putter," Bryant said. "He's playing awfully well. I expect him to be a tough guy to beat if he can turn it around and get it going after that finish."