Adam Scott is ready to write another page into the major history books despite a tough third round at the PGA Championship.
Scott was far from his fluid self during a third round, dropping into a tie for fifth at five-under 205 for the tournament after a two-over par round of 72.
He trails Jim Furyk, the 2003 US Open champion, by four strokes heading into the final round after the American shot a 68 to move to nine-under and the outright lead.
Fellow American Jason Dufner (71) holds second at eight-under while Henrik Stenson and Jonas Blixt sit well poised to bring Sweden their first major championship.
Stenson shot a 69 to be seven-under in third place and Blixt went out early with a 66 to be fourth at six-under.
Scott was left to rue a sloppy double bogey on the 16th hole when he drove the ball into the tree lined deep rough and collected another tree without advancing very far with his attempted recovery.
“I was grinding hard, unfortunately. I bit off more than I could chew at 16 and made a bad mental error,” he said.
“It wasn’t really going my way out there with much today but I’ve given myself a chance to have a good round tomorrow and maybe post a number.”
The Masters champion will play in the third last group with American Steve Stricker, giving himself a chance to get to the clubhouse before the nervous leaders.
Only once in the last eight majors has the third round leader gone on to claim the title giving Scott huge confidence despite the head start he’s giving up.
The Queenslander came from one back to claim the Masters and in recent times Phil Mickelson was five behind at the British Open in July, Ernie Els chased Scott down from six back at the 2012 British Open and Webb Simpson caught and passed Furyk when starting four back at the 2012 US Open showing bigger gaps aren’t unattainable.
“Mickelson ended up winning The Open quite easily being five back. Anything can happen in a major,” Scott said confidently.
“Protecting a lead in a major is difficult. Not many people have done it successfully. And starting a couple back is a nice place to be, because the pressure is off.”
Scott is looking for a hot start to heap some early anxiety on those above him on the leaderboard.
He hit the range after the third round to iron out the kinks and get his usually crisp swing back in the zone.
“I need to get off to a good start and get momentum going to get right in the mix from the word go,” he said.
“I am going to have to give myself a lot of chances like I did the first two days and I am playing well enough to do that.”
Scott says his final push will come midway through the back nine where holes 12,13 and 14 have proven to be three of the four easiest holes for the week.
Afterwards the heat is turned up and blowtorch applied with the two hardest holes coming at 17 and 18.
“If I get in a solid front nine then something like a 31 (four-under) on the back nine would go a long way,” he said.
“The last two holes it is just crucial to hit the fairway. If you need two pars to win that is a big ask and you deserve to win it if you do.
“You get so many opportunities before that on the back nine, a good score is out there.”
Scott is aiming to be the first Australian to win two majors in the same year and the last player to win the first and last major of a season since Jack Nicklaus in 1975.
Jason Day (72) and Marc Leishman (70) are the next best Australians in a tie for 21st at even par.
Marcus Fraser fell back out of the mix following a 75, leaving him at one-over in a tie for 28th.
John Senden (73) sits at five-over while Matt Jones (73) is at six-over to round out the Australian tilt.
World no. 1 Tiger Woods continued his struggles with a 73 leaving him at four-over.
