Singh turns back the clock at the Masters

FIJIAN former world No. 1 Vijay Singh has set the scene for a tantalising Sunday showdown with Adam Scott at the Australian Masters.

The 50-year-old three-time major winner, searching for his first tournament win since 2008, propelled himself into a share of second spot with the round of the week so far at Royal Melbourne yesterday.

He might to have to repeat or better it, though, to beat in-form Scott, who will take a four- shot lead into the final round as he chases his second straight win, after claiming last week’s Australian PGA.

Scott is on 14 under and Singh on 10 under.

Australians Nathan Holman, Nick Cullen and Matthew Griffin share second place with Singh, with American world No. 8 Matt Kuchar a shot further back.

Singh, who started the day on two under par— seven behind Scott and 22-year-old Holman — shot an eightunder-par 63.

He showed the worth of his recent switch from a long putter to one of conventional length, putting impressively during his round, but every part of his game was on song.

‘‘The first nine holes was incredible; I thought I could have birdied every hole. I was three under but the first eight holes I didn’t hit anything outside of 10 feet,’’ Singh said.

Scott looked on track for a similar round, when he picked up five shots on the front nine, which he ended with three straight birdies.

That took him to 14 under par and a four- shot lead at the turn.

The US Masters champion briefly slipped up, threeputting twice in succession for bogeys on the 11th and 12th holes to slip back to 12 under.

Scott regained his buffer, though, with a comfortable birdie on the par-5 15th and another on the 17th.

Holman, playing just his fifth event as a professional, held up fairly well under the pressure of playing with Scott in the last group, to shoot 70.