‘One shot at a time’: Day, Scott survive as big names get blown away at Open

Jason Day has been left flying the flag for Australian men’s golf after an otherwise wretched day on the Royal Troon links ended with the rest of the gold-and-green challenge at the British Open being blown away.

Both Min Woo Lee and Adam Scott, world top-40 players, suffered in the gusty afternoon conditions on Friday as their promising overnight positions evaporated, while Cameron Smith was left reflecting on his two most woeful Open days just a couple of years since he lifted the claret jug.

Jason Day remains in action at the British Open.Credit: Getty Images

Yet as only Scott, among the six-strong Australian contingent, was able to join Day in making the cut for the weekend, the substantial consolation was that last year’s runner-up played himself into contention for another crack at the title with his excellent early morning, three-under-par round of 68.

At one under, Day is tied for seventh, six behind the Irish leader Shane Lowry, four adrift of the English pair of Dan Brown and former US Open champion Justin Rose but only one behind Scottie Scheffler, Billy Horschel and Dean Burmester.

It’s put the 36-year-old in the shake-up once again after his battling effort at Royal Hoylake in appalling, rain-swept conditions last year, and the world No.31 was not shy in admitting he got the best of the weather in his round that began at 8.14am.

“We got lucky with the draw, I feel,” said Day, happy to get back to the clubhouse before the wind kicked up in the afternoon.

“This morning, though it was still a bit windy, it calmed down for us through the first 12 holes.”

Day, who shot 73 in his first round, launched his early morning follow-up with a nine-metre birdie putt at the second.

Another from almost two metres at the next thrust him back to level and one from 7.5m birdie at the 13th, after he’d been trouble off the tee, put him into red figures.

Day, who’s finished runner-up in each of the majors, is now hoping for a big push over the weekend to add to the PGA crown he won nine years ago.

Adam Scott plays his third shot on the 11th hole on a rugged day at the Open.Credit: Getty Images

“You just kind of try and be as steady as I was today,” he said of his prospective approach in the third round.

“I’d like to play like that over the next two days, but I’ve just got to kind of take it one shot at a time. So just kind of try to get myself in contention, and then anything happens on Sunday.”

Smith’s championship is one he’ll wish to forget.

He followed up his opening 80 – his worst score at a major – with a 74 that left him at 12 over for the two days, a yawning 19 shots behind playing partner Lowry.

Scott, fresh from his runners-up spot at the Scottish Open, had begun at one under, but after a couple of early bogeys, then suffered a double at the “Postage Stamp” eighth hole.

The little 110m horror may have spooked him as he turned for home with three more straight bogeys, but the tough 44-year-old holed a 9.5m shot for birdie at the penultimate hole to ensure his 77 was enough at five over for him to make his 19th Open cut from 24 attempts.

Lee fared worse still, slumping from his overnight level-par to nine over with an 80 that featured one double bogey and seven bogeys.

Lowry is halfway to a repeat of his emotional 2019 triumph at Royal Portrush. He survived a mid-round double bogey “disaster” before getting back on track quite brilliantly, rolled in a six-metre birdie putt on the 18th to complete a two-under par 69 and finish on seven under.

Cameron Smith missed the cut at the Open.Credit: AP

“It was pretty good, it was tough out there,” beamed the 37-year-old. “The wind wasn’t quite as strong as yesterday, but it was still tricky. The 11th was a bit of a disaster - but I handled that well and managed to finish nicely.”

On that 11th, the notorious “Railway” hole, Lowry pulled his second shot into the gorse, took a penalty drop and hit his fourth on to the green, only for his original ball to be found by a spectator. That meant it was still in play and Lowry hit his approach just short of the green, completing a double-bogey six.

“To be honest, I was happy enough leaving there with a six,” said Lowry. “It wasn’t a disaster. I have felt quite calm and composed the last couple of days. I’ve felt really in my comfort zone.”

Tiger Woods bowed out with another disappointing round of 77 following his 79, but rather more shocking was Rory McIlroy’s departure as he went out in 42 and bowed out on 11 over following a 75.

AAP