Finally, Scott's in the mood

While Jordan Spieth and Martin Kaymer battled each other for top spot in the third round of The Players Championship, Adam Scott also drew quite a bit of attention at TPC Sawgrass.

Spieth fired a one-under 71 yesterday morning (Singapore time), good enough to tie Kaymer for the lead after the German had to settle for bogey at the par-four 18th to card an even-par 72 for a 12-under total of 204.

Scott became a part of the narrative after he had disclosed some details of his secret wedding last month just before Friday's second round and also because he did well enough out on the course to give himself an outside chance to end the tournament as world No. 1 for the first time.

Needing to finish no worse than joint 16th to dislodge Tiger Woods from the top spot, the world No. 2 clawed his way into the top 30 by shooting a three-under 69 in the third round yesterday morning.

A great deal would need to go Scott's way in the final round for him to become No. 1, but he was delighted to have the opportunity after seemingly dashing his hopes with a dismal opening round of five-over 77.

"If I can put a good round on it and post something good, I think I can have a high finish," Scott said, after posting a three-under total of 213.

However, the 2013 US Masters champion conceded that a top-16 finish was still very much up in the air with a host of top golfers above him.

"I don't know, it depends on other guys too," said the 33-year-old from Adelaide.

"It's just not set in stone. So the goal has got to be, depending upon conditions, to try and get to double digits (under par). It's possible.

"I'll be off fairly early probably again and I'll try and sneak up there as high as I possibly can. You never know what's going to happen out here."

Asked to give more details about his private wedding to long-time girlfriend and Swedish architect Marie Kojzar in the Bahamas on April 17, Scott said many of the guests did not even know about it in advance.

"It was a week where we knew some people, who we wanted, would be around and we kept it a secret for a couple of months and then surprised them on the day," said Scott.

"We just said we were having a party, so come on over. So they had no idea that it was going to happen.

"So that was the fun little game for me and Marie to play for a while, planning it and stuff."

Kojzar, who dated Scott in the early-to-mid 2000s before a split of a few years, reunited with the Australian shortly before he won his first Major title at the 2013 Masters.

Barring an almighty collapse, Scott will not be able to catch the leading duo, who were three strokes ahead of Spain's Sergio Garcia and Australian John Senden.

"It was very tricky today, therefore, you didn't have as many birdie chances as the first two days," said Kaymer, the 2010 US PGA champion.

"It played tough today. Even when you hit fairways, it was gusty and therefore a little bit difficult to attack the flags."

Three other four players who have a chance this week to supplant Woods atop the world rankings - Henrik Stenson, Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar - were among a group of 11 players sharing 13th place on 211. - AFP.

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LEADERBOARD

204: Jordan Spieth 67-66-71, Martin Kaymer 63-69-72

207: John Senden 70-69-68, Sergio Garcia 67-71-69

208: Gary Woodland 67-71-70, Matt Jones 70-69-69, George McNeill 71-68-69

209: David Hearn 70-71-68, Lee Westwood 67-71-71, Francesco Molinari 72-70-67

210: Stewart Cink 70-70-70 Jim Furyk 70-68-72.