ADAM SCOTT CLAWED his way back to the top of the leaderboard at the Australian Open at Royal Sydney on Friday, putting himself two shots ahead of Rory McIlroy.
The reigning Masters champion shot a two-under-par 70 to move to 12 under par and two strokes clear of Northern Ireland’s McIlroy who posted a seven-under-par 65 and finished 10 under par.
It was the fourth time McIlroy had shot 65 this season, and just one stroke more than the 64 he recorded in August’s FedEx Cup opening Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston.
After what he described as a “wasteful” first day of 69, the current World No. 6 McIlroy had nine birdies in his round and only 25 putts.
Scott headed into the second day leading by three shots and extended that to five when he birdied the first and then holed a 50-yard chip shot for a birdie at the third hole.
He then double bogeyed the fourth and dropped a shot at the next to find himself trailing a stroke behind McIlroy.
However, the Australian regrouped in the windy and sometimes rainy conditions to grab back-to-back birdies at seven and eight and also at the 12th and 13th holes, finishing bogey, birdie, bogey and just missing by millimetres a birdie at the last.
“It was a tough afternoon with plenty of good stuff in there but then I made a few mistakes in the tricky conditions but overall it was pretty good and given how difficult it was, I was pleased I held it together pretty well,” he said.
“It was a like a five club wind on a few of the earlier holes so it was a day where all you could do was just hang on and try and hit as many good shots as possible.
“And while I managed a good few birdies, if you were slightly off the bogeys were easy to come by.”
Tough one
In a dream match-up, Scott will now play the third round in the company of McIlroy.
And while Scott has already tasted success four times this year his 24-year old rival, apart from defeating Tiger Woods earlier this month in China, is still looking for a first Tour victory in 2013.
“I’m really looking forward to playing alongside Rory and it’s another good leaderboard, and like I said all week it’s going to be a tough one to win,” Scott added.
“There are plenty of guys in the mix and I am going to have to play some golf as there is plenty of birdie opportunities out there.”
Australia’s Richard Green is in third place after a round of 66 for a nine under par total.
- © AFP, 2013
Come on Hibernian beat the filth
Fights all over the place real shame this going to take away from the win.. Happy for Stokes..
Rangers skum came on the pitch after the Hibs fans and started their usual crap..
To be fair they are rotten but there is no need for Hibs fans to rub into the rangers players similar to the Hull fan to Richard Keogh during the week..
Your trying to blame Rangers for this trouble…..your deluded!
Take your blinkers off David
Stokes is on fire today. He could have had a hat trick already..Rodgers and a Hibs win would round off a great weekend..
Stokes is a Hibs legend now. 114 years. Delighted for Hibs, what a game.
Hibs would have taken this over promotion every day of the week.
Some match so far how is Kevin Doyle in Ireland squad ahead of Stokes .
Because Stokes is rubbish.. Come on he is in the Scottish 2nd league..
‘Cause he’s a head case…come on the hibs, sunshine on leith
I still think he is better than Doyle .
And Doyle plays for Colorado rapids
Doyle is still playing at a higher standard.. Both aren’t good enough for Ireland.. But I don’t anyone looked at our squad announcement apart Stokes and thought where is Stokes?
I can guarantee that the FA cup final won’t be as good as this game,
And that’s supposedly a “higher standard”
Yeah the players will be tho.. Every single one of them.. So what’s your point?
Doyle is playing for one of the best teams in the MLS at the moment..
Higher standard often makes for a worse game cos they cancel each other out
Nice goal in fairness to him.
3-2 Get in Hibernian
The pitch invasion at the end almost reminded me of an all Ireland final before plan b! That’s until everyone remembered its soccer and your supposed to hammer the sh*te out of each other.
Pmsl..
I hope Stokes lifts the Scottish Cup.
Stokes scores again .
Great final so far..
Plan B Plan B Plan B
Disgraceful scenes
Dry your eyes ffs. Disgraceful scenes your arse.
Some carry on ,on the pitch at the moment
that should be supporting hibs sorry,I’m a Motherwell fan but have always had a soft spot for the hibees,I hope the Celtic fans who claim to be delighted for hibs were supporting them rather than the usual just anti rangers bile
Well done Hibs&stokes!
Good game. What minute will Hibs do a Hibs?
were you supporting jobs for hibs sake or just being anti rangers genuine question
It wouldn’t have mattered who Hibs were playing today. I would have wanted them to win regardless. 114 years they’ve been waiting on this, I’m sure the majority who don’t support either side would have wanted them to win it.
The fact that it was against the tribute act just added a bit of spice to it.
HIbs are a disgrace, pure filth!