Swedish sensation Ludvig Aberg will go into the final round of the Scottish Open with a two-shot lead over home contender Robert MacIntyre.
But Australia’s Adam Scott had another fine round of 64 to sit third, just two shots off the lead as he hopes to break a win drought stretching over four years.
Indeed, his third place heading into the final rounds is his best 54-hole position since the 2020 Genesis Invitational, the tournament he last won – a full four years, four months, and 28 days ago.
Scott said: “Yeah, I think I played the best of all three days today. The swing felt really tight. Ball coming out on line where I was looking. Nice way to play golf.
“Now I’m getting picky and wish I had one or two better, but I’m very happy with 64.”
Speaking of his chances of victory tomorrow, he added: “I‘m going to have to go low. I think the course is softening, really, and hitting some shots, like firing at pins today, not always what happens at the links but that’s probably how it’s going to be unless the forecast is drastically different.
“Like I said, I feel good. Shots are coming out on line, and I’m going to have to take some stuff on a little bit tomorrow and hole a few putts. Pretty bunched, so it’s all going to have to go your way tomorrow to win.”
But with The Open next week, the Australian is finding form at the perfect time.
MacIntyre carded a third round score of 63 at the Renaissance Club on Saturday to keep the pressure on European Ryder Cup teammate Aberg.
Aberg, 24, followed consecutive rounds of 64 with a 65 to reach 17 under par, with Scotland’s MacIntyre on 15 under after the lowest score of the day.
Aberg only turned professional in June last year and won the final Ryder Cup qualifying event in Switzerland in September.
He was hailed as a “generational talent” after being given a wild card by Europe captain Luke Donald.
Aberg partnered Viktor Hovland to a thrashing of world number one Scottie Scheffler and five-time major winner Brooks Koepka as Europe regained the trophy.
Two months later, he won his first title on the PGA Tour in the RSM Classic, then finished runner-up to Scheffler at The Masters on his major championship debut in April.
Former world number one Adam Scott sits third on the Scottish Open leaderboard after a round of 64 left him 14 under par.
Defending champion Rory McIlroy heads into Sunday’s final round five shots off the lead after a frustrating round of 67.
Even a three-putt bogey on the 18th could not take the shine off MacIntyre’s day after he notched an eagle and seven birdies in front of a partisan home crowd.
“Overall I played absolutely brilliantly. Tee to green was solid again, rolled the putter beautifully. I’ve just got to let it happen, and it happened,” he said.
“I’ve not been shy in saying it, the Scottish Open is the one that I want. That’s my end goal.
“I can’t force it, there’s so many good players in the tournament chasing me down. I can only control me and I’ve controlled myself very well so far.”
For the third day running, McIlroy felt he could easily have been two or three shots better off.
The world number two covered his first 10 holes in four under before a run of seven straight pars and a bogey on the 18th.
“The birdies dried up,” admitted McIlroy, who is competing for the first time since his late collapse at the US Open cost him a fifth major title.
“I’ll be within a few shots (of the lead) and at least still have a chance if I get off to a good start.” France’s Antoine Rozner, South Korea’s Im Sung-jae and American duo Sahith Theegala and Collin Morikawa are all four shots adrift of Aberg on 13 under par.