He fired a three-under 67 to stand on eight-under 202, three strokes ahead of the US foursome of Bart Bryant, Kevin Sutherland, Ryan Moore and Charley Hoffman.

'I'm a world-class player, but there are a bunch of world-class players just behind me. I'm not expecting those guys to lie down,' Scott said.

Spain's Sergio Garcia fired a 65 to stand another shot off the pace at 206, along with American Dudley Hart and Sweden's Jesper Parnevik.

Scott, the highest-ranked player in the field at 10th in the world, took a bogey at the par-three second hole, answered with birdies at the fourth and fifth but gave back another stroke with a bogey at the eighth.

The Australian, who began the day with a one-stroke edge, began the back nine with a birdie and added another at the par-five 16th before closing with a birdie.

Three strokes may be a fairly comfortable cushion but the 27-year-old is haunted by memories of the final-round meltdowns he suffered last month at Miami and last June at Memphis.

'I won the first 10 tournaments of my career from the front but I've let a few slip lately, so I think I've got something to prove,' he said.

'I came here to get in contention and win. I've been playing well this year and haven't quite done it, so I'm pushing myself a little bit to do that.'

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE