Golf: Scott still in No.1 hunt at Players Championship

Adam Scott hits off the fairway. Photo / Getty Images.

Adam Scott hasn't ruled out the chase for world No.1 after a solid third round at the US PGA Tour Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.

Scott posted a three-under 69 in morning conditions to move up to three-under for the tournament, currently tied 35th as the leaders head out into tougher, windier afternoon play.

The world No.2 needs only a top-16 finish to usurp Tiger Woods on the rankings list and would then only need Henrik Stenson and Bubba Watson to not win the tournament.

"The goal tomorrow has got to be to, depending upon conditions, to try and get to double digits (under par).

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

"This golf course plays tougher over the weekend, especially late.

"The wind's up, there's some critical shots coming in that you have to hit really good shots or you're in danger of dropping.

"So the guys have their work cut out for them this afternoon. If I can put a good round on it tomorrow and post something good, I think I can have a high finish."

Scott claimed he wouldn't pay close attention to the top-16 mark as he plied his trade Sunday and would rather just focus on playing the best he can.

"There are other guys who could threaten it (number one), so I'm not going to study leaderboards just to do some maths on rankings," he said.

"I'm just going to play and see what happens."

Scott also enjoyed some extra attention from the fans after the revelation he was secretly married last month.

"A few people were yelling out. It was good fun. I'm glad everyone thinks it's fun. It's been great for me," he said.

"I'm only a couple weeks in (to marriage), but I think it's good for me. I think it really suits me. I feel very comfortable with it and I don't know that it really should change me too much. But it's exciting, looking to the future."

Matt Jones, John Senden and Geoff Ogilvy are heading out for their third rounds at five under par, just outside the top 10 and seven shots off the lead held by Martin Kaymer.

Steven Bowditch completed a round of 71 to be tied 45th while Stuart Appleby struggled to a 77 to almost certainly face a third round cut.