IRVING, Texas — Adam Scott figured there was no point wasting his good play to take money from his mates in Australia. So he cut short his trip home to get back on the PGA Tour.

"I came here to get in contention and win a golf tournament," said Scott, who stayed home only a week after the Masters. "I feel like I've been playing well this year and haven't quite done it. So I'm kind of pushing myself a little bit to do that."

He only needs one more good round to win the EDS Byron Nelson Championship.

Scott took a three-stroke lead into the final round after a 3-under 67 yesterday got him to 8-under 202. He birdied two of the last three holes, including a 3 1/2-footer at the 429-yard 18th.

"It all depends on Adam," said Bart Bryant, among the quartet of players three strokes behind. "Obviously, he's a world-class player. He has the potential to go out and kind of run away with it."

Scott, at No. 10 in the world the highest-ranked player in the field, again topped the leaderboard after his solid finish yesterday, and Kevin Sutherland's bad one.

Sutherland, whose only PGA Tour victory came six years ago, was at 7 under with a one-stroke lead over Scott until bogeys on the final two holes.

After missing a 7-foot par putt on the 198-yard 17th hole, Sutherland pushed his final tee shot way right into heavy rough — and was still in the rough after his punch shot. He finally got to the front edge of the green and two-putted from 70 feet.

"I have to remember what I did before that," Sutherland said. "I had a good rhythm going, a good feeling and tried to keep doing that. ... I kind of got away from that maybe at the end."

Sutherland (67), Bryant (67), Charley Hoffman (68) and Ryan Moore (68) made up the closest group chasing Scott. Sergio Garcia, after a season-best 65, was four strokes back along with Dudley Hart (66) and Jesper Parnevik (68).

Hawai'i's Parker McLachlin, a Punahou and UCLA alum who started the day tied for fifth two stokes behind, struggled to a 4-over 74 and was among 16 players tied for 28th at 211.

LPGA TOUR

AVENTURA, Fla. — Annika Sorenstam shot a 1-under 70 to take a one-shot lead over Paula Creamer after three rounds of the Stanford International Pro-Am.

Sorenstam, seeking her 71st LPGA Tour victory, has won five straight events when she's taken a one-shot lead into the final round.

"I feel great," Sorenstam said. "I thought I played very well, a lot of good shots, very steady shots, fairways and greens."

Creamer — who hasn't finished higher than a tie for 21st in her previous three events — had a flawless, four-birdie, no-bogey round of 67. Second-round leader Young Kim (73) and Momeko Ueda (67) were two strokes back.

"I feel very, very confident," Creamer said. "I think that's the biggest thing. I have confidence in my irons and my putting. Standing over the ball I feel like I'm going to hit a great shot. That's incredibly important on this golf course."

CHAMPIONS TOUR

SAVANNAH, Ga. — No wonder Tom Watson and Andy North campaigned so hard for a return to team play in the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf. They're very good at it.

Watson and North combined for a better-ball 62 at The Club at Savannah Harbor for a 23-under 121 total and a four-stroke lead heading into the final round. Brad Bryant and Lonnie Nielsen (60) were tied for second with Jeff Sluman and Craig Stadler (63).

The Legends Division of the tournament, an individual affair since 2002, switched back to team play this year and declared the earnings would be official money in the annual rankings. Watson and North moved up.

EUROPEAN-ASIAN TOUR

SHANGHAI, China — Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke shot a 5-under 67 to take a one-stroke lead after the third round of the BMW Asian Open.

Clarke had a 9-under 207 total. Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen (69) was second, and England's Robert Dinwiddie (66) was another stroke back.

DURAMED FUTURE TOUR

MCALLEN, Texas — Recurring lightning strike forced the postponement of the second round of the Jalapeno Duramed FUTURES Golf Classic with half the field unable to complete their round.

Samantha Richdale (68) and Sarah Lynn Sargent (69) share the clubhouse lead at 4-under 140.

Hawai'i's Bridget Dwyer, a Punahou school alum who started the day in a four-way tie for the lead after an opening-round 67, was 5-under for the tournament after 12 holes when play was called. Ashley Prange and Jenny Gleason were at 7-under through 13 holes.