Scott's early wobble

Adam Scott enjoyed a hefty slice of luck as he made a shaky start to the third round of the Scottish PGA Championship at Gleneagles.

Scott began the day four shots clear of the field on 12 under par after a superb 65 yesterday, and an odds-on favourite to win his third European Tour title.

The 22-year-old Australian felt he could “put his foot down” and run away with the tournament if he continued where he left off from the first two days, but there were few signs of such imperious form in the early stages.

His opening tee shot was carved into heavy rough some 30 yards right of the first fairway, and he was lucky to get a free drop as the ball had plugged in the sodden ground after Friday’s heavy rain.

A second drop for casual water then allowed him to get a reasonable lie and from 160 yards away he was able to use his power to find the putting surface and two putt for par.

His lead was down to three shots anyway however, Germany’s Marcel Siem holing from six feet minutes earlier on the same hole to move to nine under par.

Scott did find the fairway on the par five second and looked a good bet to maintain his superb scoring on the par fives so far, eight birdies and an eagle making him 10 under for the 10 he had played in the first two rounds.

But he missed the green with his approach and was again fortunate that his clumsy chip from a poor lie stopped just short of rolling down a bank and into the water protecting the green.

A chip to five feet rescued his par again, just before the heavens opened once again on the Centenary Course.

A full day’s play was possible yesterday despite persistent rain falling throughout, and after further rain overnight greenkeeping staff used a one-hour delay for fog this morning to clear the course of any standing water.

The fog eventually gave way to the kind of bright sunshine which bathed the course during the first round on Thursday, and the early starters took advantage to card some low scores.

The best of them went to Holland’s Rolf Muntz who carded a 64 to finish seven under for the tournament and set the early clubhouse target.

The former British amateur champion went to the turn in 33 and rolled in four birdies in a row and an eagle on the 16th to be nine under for the round playing the last.

The 533-yard par five has offered up plenty of birdie opportunities this week but a poor second shot meant he was unable to reach the green in three, and after pitching to six feet he missed the par putt.

Even if he had recorded a 63 it would not have equalled the course record held by Pierre Fulke however, preferred lies in operation due to the wet conditions underfoot.

But Muntz did have the consolation of being in prime position to win a Rolex watch for the lowest round of the tournament.