Adam Scott was full of praise for playing partner Rory McIlroy but then McIlroy admitted silencing the challenge of Scott has boosted his confidence  to capture the WGC  – Cadillac Championship at Trump Doral in suburban Miami.

Scott went into the third round leading the chasing pack by two shots but at the end of the round last week’s Honda Classic champion had been overtaken by McIlroy who moved into the Cadillac driver’s seat to be leading by three.

Just over two years ago McIlroy went head-to-head with Scott at the Australian Open at Royal Sydney and coming from behind the last day, including posting a closing birdie to Scott’s bogey, to deny the overwhelming local hero and win the Australian Open.

Victory along the shoreline of Sydney Harbour heralded the the start of an impressive 2014 for McIlroy who added two Major Championship crowns to his trophy cabinet.

Rory McIlroy on the move coming from two behind Adam Scott to finish three clear of the Australian (Photo =- Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

Now McIlroy is on the verge of winning a third WGC title and his 20th pro career success worldwide.

But with 18 holes to play in the first major showdown of the new season McIlroy was first complimentary of Scott, whose company it was obvious he clearly enjoys, before hinting getting the better of Scott has put a spring in his step heading the the final day of the $US 9.5m event.

“I played with Adam the last day in L.A. and obviously I watched quite a bit over the weekend at the Honda and obviously saw him out there again today,” said McIlroy.

“He didn’t have his best stuff with him today but still he’s playing awfully well. You can see that over the first two days. It’s always enjoyable to play with Adam. I feel like our styles of game are quite similar. I think he swings the club better than basically anyone else on Tour, so it’s always nice to play with him and watch that.

“It was enjoyable, and it does give me confidence knowing that a guy is playing like that and being two shots behind him at the start of the day and having a three-shot lead, it must mean that I’m doing some things right, as well. That gives me a about the of confidence, too, yeah.”

And Scott, who has won back-to-back once in his career was just as praiseworthy of McIlroy who is on the verge of joining Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only players to have captured 12 PGA Tour victories before turning 27 years of age.

“I’ve seen Rory play some great golf. I think he’s going to be very satisfied with that round,” said Scott.

“He looked like he was under total control. Of course, there are a couple shots here or there that he could nitpick but it was really all under control.

“He scrambled when he had to. He executed a lot of great shots. He drove the ball great. And that’s what I’m talking about; if you drive the ball great, you’re going to create more opportunities our here, and that’s what he did well and I didn’t do well today.”