Adam Scott shot a 6-under 65 on Saturday and moved within one stroke of the leaders at the Baycurrent Classic in Yokohama, Japan, as he chases his first PGA Tour title since 2020.
The 46-year-old Australian is in a five-way tie for fourth place at 12-under, trailing Jacob Bridgeman (69 on Saturday), rookie Zach Bauchou (67) and Michael Brennan (65) entering the final round at Yokohama Country Club.
Scott, the 2013 Masters champion with 14 career wins on the PGA Tour, wrapped eagles at the par-5 sixth hole and par-4 ninth around a bogey at the par-3 seventh on Saturday to go with three birdies.
His last tour victory was at The Genesis Invitational in 2020 at Riviera Country Club.
“It’s been like six years since I’ve won on the PGA Tour. I’m frustrated by that,” Scott said. “I feel like there’s been some good golf in there and I haven’t made the most of it, but it also shows how hard it is to win on the PGA Tour now.”
Scott has come close to ending the drought twice before this season, finishing fourth at The Genesis in February and tying for fourth at the Cadillac Championship in May.
“It would be nice just to win anything, to be honest with you, at this point,” Scott said. “So this is a great chance for me tomorrow to go out and have a fantastic round and hopefully it’s better than everyone else.”
Bridgeman, the first-round leader at the PGA Tour’s only stop in Asia, endured an up-and-down round with six birdies and four bogeys.
A stretch of three bogeys in four holes kept Bauchou from separating from the pack.
Brennan had his low round of the tournament with seven birdies and one bogey.
Justin Thomas is part of the quintet tied with Scott at 12-under after posting five birdies and one bogey. He is looking for his fifth career PGA Tour title in Asia.
“I wish I knew because I would love to channel it year-round all the time. I’m not sure. Yeah, I have a great track record. I’m going to try to use that to my advantage,” Thomas said of his success in Asia. “I really enjoy coming to these events. I think it’s just something to be said and kind of cool and special when you can play in front of people that we’re never really going to get the chance to be in front of and see and play.”
Also tied for fourth are England’s Jordan Smith (66), Germany’s Stephan Jaeger (67) and second-round co-leader Keith Mitchell (70)
Defending champion Xander Schauffele is tied for 12th and four shots off the pace after a 6-under 65 on Saturday.
Seventy-two players are competing in the no-cut tournament with a prize pool of $8 million, with the winner taking home $1.44 million.
