Scott is early clubhouse leader

Apr 9, 2011, 20:58 GMT

Augusta, Georgia - Adam Scott played a magnificent 67 in the third round at the Masters on Saturday to be the early clubhouse leader.

The Australian managed six birdies and an eagle, but also dropped three shots on the course at the Augusta National Golf Club in a morning in which many players found scoring easy.

Scott was on seven-under for the tournament, giving him a one-shot lead from Bo van Pelt, whose only bogey in his round came on the 18th for a 68 on the day.

Bubba Watson, who is one of the longest hitters on the tour, managed seven birdies, but also gave away two bogies as he finished with a 67 for five-under to lie five-under for the tournament.

Out on the course overnight leader Rory McIlroy dropped a shot on the fifth after managing a birdie on the fourth. He remained on 10- under for the tournament after nine holes.

Australian Jason Day, who went into the round two shots behind, at one stage was leading by a shot, but then bogeyed the sixth and seventh to be on nine-under at the turn-around.

He shared second place with South Korean KJ Choi, who was two- under for the day and nine-under for the tournament at the half-way stage.

Tiger Woods, meanwhile, was not making the putts that he needed to play himself to the front and after dropping a shot on the first, he birdied the third to go back to seven-under, but then bogeyed the fourth to lie four behind the leader.

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