Adam Scott has failed to make a move early in the third round of the BMW Championship at Cherry Hills Country Club, leaving the Australian tilt floundering in the penultimate US PGA tour playoff event.

After positioning himself for a potential charge with a four-under 66 in round two leaving him just five off the lead at three-under, world No.2 Scott is two-over at the turn in his third round.

He has dropped back to one-under for the tournament, tied 16th and a distant seven shots off the lead shared by Spain’s Sergio Garcia and American Ryan Palmer.

Playing together in the final group, Garcia is even through his first six holes while Palmer is one-under, leaving the pair at eight-under for the tournament.

World No.1 Rory McIlroy is still lurking with intent in a tie for third with American Billy Horschel just one shot behind at seven under.

Scott had a short putt for birdie on the opening hole but watched his effort power lip out of the cup, perhaps a sign of things to come.

He failed to take advantage of a booming drive down the second, again settling for par before making a mess of the drivable par-four third.

The Queenslander pulled his drive left into trees, compounded the error by chipping into a trunk and having the ball end up behind him, before struggling further to a double bogey six.

The 34-year-old birdied the fifth hole but bogeyed the ninth to be back-pedalling fast.

John Senden sits even par and tied 21st as the next best Australian while Stuart Appleby (+1), Marc Leishman (+2), Geoff Ogilvy (+2), Matt Jones (+7) and Steven Bowditch (+10) continue to struggle.

Jason Day withdrew with a back injury during the second round.