It was more what didn’t happen at The Lakes on Friday that gave Adam Scott hope of making a weekend charge at the Australian Open.
While the pre-tournament favourite didn’t exactly set the world on fire with a solid, one-under 71 in challenging conditions, he wasn’t alone.
“It’s not easy out there – no one’s doing anything,” Scott said after a second round that combined some great saves with a stack of missed opportunities.
“So I’m getting away with it.”
After an even-par 72 on Thursday, Scott sits at one under for the tournament – five shots behind pacesetter Marcus Fraser as the leaders failed to improve on the opening day overall score of six under held by John Senden.
Had Scott been a touch better with his beloved broomstick putter, he might have been closer, missing a raft of makeable birdie putts by bare margins.
However things could have been a lot worse had he not made a remarkable save after finding the water on the par-5 11th.
Scott went aggressive with his second shot but his three iron found the rough next to the green and ricocheted into the water.
Controversy followed as Scott had a lengthy discussion with tournament director Andrew Langford-Jones with doubts over whether the ball had found safety before hitting the water.
Playing it safe, Scott took it back some 160m behind the lake.
“You don’t get a benefit-of-the-doubt to drop next to the hole,” Scott said.
It mattered little as Scott creamed his fourth, putting it two feet from the pin and putting in for a crucial par.
“To save maybe one or two shots by getting that up and down was kind of key,” Scott said.
“That’s what you’ve got to do on days like these.”
“… I kept myself in with a chance to make a move tomorrow and Sunday, but I’m going to have to play a little better than I have.”