Scott takes weather delays in stride to shoot record
Three weeks ago the picturesque Pine Valley Golf Club was covered in snow. If Adam Scott woke up this morning and the fairways were fit for skiing he would not be surprised. Rain delays, gale-force winds, rounds lasting three days - Scott says it is all part of the game nowadays.
The hugely talented Aussie was the only one to tame Thursday's wild winds before play was abandoned and he picked up where he left off yesterday, grabbing another six shots for a course-record nine-under 63.
Scott, 24, had a share of the lead at the end of day two but the world number 10 had only played 18 holes compared with his co-leaders Michael Campbell, Retief Goosen and Swede Peter Hanson, who have all played two rounds.
Scott will return this morning to start his second round and try to take advantage, but the forecast is not bright with possible lightning and torrential showers - and wind of course.
Scott said: 'The days were totally different but my game stayed the same. I played great yesterday [Thursday] and hit a pretty good score despite the conditions and this morning I kept swinging in the same rhythm.
'I got off to a good start [yesterday] ... birdie, birdie and finished with a flurry ... birdie, eagle and chipping in for birdie at the last. Things were just going my way. I was up bloody early ... at 4.30 and I'm going back to bed now. We're coming back [this morning] for the second round, but it is pretty much standard practice now. Seven of my last eight events have been full-day weather delays. So I'm getting used to it.'
Kiwi Campbell had trouble recounting his eight birdies in a second-round 65, which added to his first-round 70. 'It's been a long day,' the 1999 Johnnie Walker Classic champion said after completing 36 holes.
'I am fit and strong enough to play two rounds. In fact, it was harder yesterday doing nothing much at all.'
Campbell is back on tour after taking a month off and has returned with 'all guns blazing'.
'It has been hard, the past six months. I have been struggling with my game,' Campbell said. 'I had to do something about it so I took four weeks off. I wanted to work on my game mentally and physically.'
Campbell took his hat off to Scott, but said the weather could play a big part again. 'If he doesn't go crazy [in his second round] we have a chance,' he said. 'It was a great score he shot - a freak round. It depends on what Scotty does [today].
'I think the forecast is horrendous so I am very happy where I am right now. It's nice to be up there again.'
World number five Goosen was glad to be in a share of the lead after a difficult day.
'We struggled with spectators and photographers and after nine [holes] we managed to get someone who could speak Chinese and tell them to stop using their cameras. It was frustrating so the mood wasn't all that good. But I'm happy to be where I am,' the South African said.
Asian hopes were still high with Thai Chawalit Plaphol one stroke back with one hole still to play in his second round. 'We got to the 18th tee but it was too dark,' he said. 'I'm very happy to be on the leaderboard.'
Colin Montgomerie was at six under after being only one behind at one stage. 'I dropped a couple of shots coming in which was a pity. I was getting a bit tired and I was trying to rush in to get finished,' the Scot said.
Tournament drawcard Ernie Els will also be back early this morning to start his second round, eight shots behind Scott and company.
The world number three said: 'It's a different place today. You almost can't believe it, it's crazy. I was hitting three-iron into 18 yesterday; now it's sand wedge.'
