Scott says his best is still to come as he hunts leaders
World number seven Adam Scott stayed firmly on track for a title charge at the US$2 million Singapore Open yesterday and warned his rivals his best was yet to come.
The 25-year-old Australian battled to a two-under-par 69 on a sweltering day at the challenging Sentosa Golf Club's Serapong course, shooting three birdies against a lone bogey, to trail halfway leaders Edward Michaels of the United States and Australian rookie Andrew Buckle by three shots.
Buckle, playing in his first season on the Asian Tour, sizzled with an outstanding 65, despite a bogey at his last hole, the ninth. Michaels, last year's Philippine Open champion, cruised into contention with a solid 67 and leads with Buckle on six-under-par 136.
Overnight co-leader Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, last year's Asian Tour number one, stumbled to a 73 to lie four off the pace.
New Zealand's Mahal Pearce is two strokes back in third place following a 70 while England's Ryder Cup star Lee Westwood struggled to the finish line, dropping three bogeys on his back nine for a 71 and tied 14th position, six off the pace.
But all eyes will certainly be on Scott, who is hunting for his third title of the year. 'It was pretty steady stuff, I would like to have made a couple of putts to give me a bit of momentum but I have played pretty solid. I'm in a good position,' said Scott.
Starting from the back nine, the talented Aussie turned in one-under with short birdies on the 10th and 13th holes, sandwiched by a bogey on 12th, which is the longest par four on the course at 490 yards. He later drained a 20-footer on the fifth for his third birdie.
Scott warned that he has a low round in his game for a much anticipated weekend assault. 'I don't think anyone is running away with it. I have not given myself too much work to do at the weekend. There is a good round of golf out there at some point, something like six-under,' he said.
The 23-year-old Buckle has produced three top-10 finishes this season including a runner-up finish behind South Korean star Choi Kyung-ju in the SK Telecom Open in South Korea in May. And he showed his massive potential once again to upstage his more illustrious compatriot with a seven-birdie round for the lowest score so far at the Serapong course.
Buckle stayed out of the thick rough, missing only two fairways with a strong driving display. 'I will try to be patient at the weekend. It's still a long way to go,' he said.
Michaels credited his wife-cum-caddie, Missy, for keeping him on track for what could be a lucrative US$315,000 payout in Asia's richest national Open. 'Missy has been great. She just kinds of prods me along and tells me to stay in the present,' he said.
Overnight co-leader Thongchai said: 'My putting was not that good. I still have a chance - I am only four shots back.'
