Scott regains outright lead as Tiger fades

Akron, OH — Adam Scott carded a four-under 66 Saturday to remain atop the leaderboard after three rounds of the WGC - Bridgestone Invitational.

Scott completed 54 holes at 12-under-par 198. He has won seven times on both the PGA Tour and European Tour, and his record with the 54-hole lead is outstanding.

The Australian has won five of the previous seven times he owned a piece of the 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour. He has also win six of the seven times he was in that position on the European Tour, including the last five in a row.

However, the 54-hole leader has gone on to win this event only seven of 12 times.

Scott's countryman, Jason Day, also shot 66 and is tied for second at minus-11. Day was joined there by Ryo Ishikawa, who fired a six-under 64 on the South Course at Firestone Country Club.

Keegan Bradley, who was one of the four second-round co-leaders with Scott, shot two-under 68 and is tied for fourth with Martin Laird, who posted his second straight 67.

Seven-time champion Tiger Woods continued to struggle, posting a two-over 72 to dip to one-over-par 211. He does have some good company at that number, as Phil Mickelson carded a one-over 71 to finish 54 holes at plus-one.

Woods opened with a bogey on the first. He dropped another stroke on No. 8, but bounced back with a birdie on the ninth. After five straight pars, Woods birdied the 15th from six-feet out, but trouble loomed.

Scott's compatriot, Jason Day is tied for second with Ishikawa on 11-under after a round of 66, with America's Keegan Bradley (68) and Scotland's Martin Laird (67) a shot further back on 10-under.

World number one Luke Donald posted a third round 64 -- the joint best round of the day -- to put him back in contention.

It's nice to get in position. I putted a lot better today. That was really the only difference between today and the first two days," Donald said, AFP reported.

"I've been swinging it nicely, hitting a lot of fairways, a lot of greens. Just was able to get the putter rolling and hole a few putts, which was a pleasant surprise," Donald added, AFP reported.

The Englishman is three shots adrift of Scott on nine-under par along with Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson (67) and Rickie Fowler (69).

Rory McIlroy is five shots off the lead after posting his best round of the week (67) which leaves the U.S. Open champion in a tie for 10th place with America's Steve Stricker.

McIlroy set for return to U.S. PGA Tour

Tiger Woods lost further ground to the leaders on Saturday in his first tournament since recovering from injuries to his left knee and Achilles tendon.

The former world number one posted a two-over par round of 72 and is now 13 shots adrift of Scott.

"I really hit it good coming home, started hitting the ball the right flight, every tee shot was flash, everything was back to where it was at the beginning of the week," Woods said, AFP reported.

"Only difference is I didn't putt well again today, two horseshoes, three-putted 18, and then obviously made a bogey with a sand wedge on 16. That's four shots right there," he added.