AKRON, Ohio (AP) _ Adam Scott has played better than anyone in his last two rounds.

Now if he can just work on his timing.

Four days after closing with a 67 for his best finish in a major, Scott made nine birdies over his last 12 holes Thursday for a 7-under 63, giving him a two-shot lead over Jason Gore and four shots clear of Tiger Woods in the Bridgestone Invitational.

Mike Weir of Bright's Grove, Ont., and Calgary's Stephen Ames each shot a 69 to sit six strokes off the lead.

Scott made his charge too late Sunday at Medinah to have any shot in the PGA Championship, where he tied for third.

Just his luck, they don't award the trophy on Thursday.

But the 26-year-old Australian appears headed in that direction, especially the way he kept his tee shots in the short grass at Firestone South, which enabled him to fire at the flags.

``That was my hope coming into this week, to keep playing like I did last week,'' Scott said. ``I just tried to keep working on the same stuff and got it going a little today. I hit a lot of good iron shots and really took the pressure off my putting by hitting them so close.''

Gore, who got into this World Golf Championship by winning the 84 Lumber Classic last year, played with an old friend from his junior golf days in California _ Woods _ and settled in quickly with a birdie-eagle-birdie start. The highlight was a four-wood that he aimed toward the centre of the green on the par-5 second hole. He pulled it slightly left, and it wound up two feet from the hole.

It was the first time Gore has played with Woods on the PGA Tour.

``It's the first time I've played with him since he's been Tiger,'' Gore said. ``Last time I played with him, he was still Eldrick.''

Wood didn't look nearly as sharp as he was four days ago at Medinah, when he captured his 12th career major with a five-shot victory. He traded birdies and bogeys until finishing strong with wedges into eight feet at No. 16 and 12 feet on No. 18 for a 67.

Lucas Glover checked in with a 66, freed from the pressure of his bid to make the Ryder Cup team. He was devastated when he wasn't a captain's pick Monday, blaming himself for his poor play this summer. But on his first trip to Firestone, he liked what he saw.

``You could have a major here tomorrow,'' he said.