Martin Laird one shot clear in Las Vegas after bogey-free round

Defending champion Martin Laird carded a bogey-free eight-under-par 63 at the TPC Summerlin to move into a one-shot lead after the third round of the Las Vegas Open on Saturday night.

The Scot's round was highlighted by six birdies and an eagle on the 341-yard par-four 15th, where he drove the green to within six feet of the hole.

"I really left myself the easiest putt on the green; it was right-edge, up-the-hill putt," Laird told reporters. "That's the one most of us would want if we had six feet for eagle."

It is the second consecutive stellar round for Laird, who shot a nine-under 62 on Friday, to stand on 19-under par through three rounds.

"It's been a good three days and even after only shooting two-under the first day, I was pretty confident that I could post three low ones in a row to get back in contention," Laird added. "I maybe didn't think I'd post 17-under the next two rounds, but I'm pleased obviously.

"Any time you shoot 62 you've got to feel pretty good after it. I was just pleased to finally make some putts, because as I said, I hit it just as good on Thursday as I did on Friday, just made nothing, so it was nice to see the ball go in the hole.

"I've started to get a little more comfortable with the speed of the greens as the week has gone on and putted nicely again today."

Second-round leader Jonathan Byrd had a round of five-under par (66) and is one stroke back after the American recorded six birdies and a bogey in his round on Saturday.

Australian Cameron Percy had the low score of the day, a career best nine-under (62) with five birdies through the first nine holes, and eight in total as well as an eagle and a bogey, for a tournament total of 17-under 196.

He is joint-third with American Webb Simpson, who shot a 64.

"I told myself to stay patient and I knew birdies would come, and I knew I was playing well enough to make a lot of birdies, and they came," said Simpson, who was one over through five holes. "I birdied six through nine and then 11 through 13, and then 15 and 16. I don't know if I've ever had ten birdies in a round out here on tour, but it felt good."

Japan's Ryudi Imada, who started the day one stroke off the lead, followed up his sizzling 62 of Friday with a disappointing 70 and is now tied for 11th, six strokes off the lead (200).