Formidable Adam Scott eases into contention at St Andrews

Somehow, he has managed to fly in under the radar. Why? How?

Ye he has emerged from the shadow cast by Jordan Spieth. And, having used stealth, there is an added pep in the step of Adam Scott heading into the weekend, a Masters champion who in the past has flirted with glory in the British Open only to be rejected.

Yesterday, there was only flawless perfection. A bogey-free round of 67 – for a midway total of 137, seven-under-par – moved the Australian up towards the part of the leaderboard that he tends to inhabit when Major championships are up for decision.

Scott has moved into familiar territory, in the hunt for another of those big titles so craved by players.

Of course, we shouldn’t have been surprised. Not by Mr Scott. In the past three British Opens we have seen the Australian finish fifth at Hoylake last year; third at Muirfield in 2013, and second at Lytham and St Annes in 2012.

There is a sense Scott is due one, although it never works like that. You have to earn it, to win it for yourself.

“I’m very motivated. I definitely let that one (at Lytham) slip, and I would love to be sitting here having won The Open, but I’m going to have to work hard for it. I’ve had a couple good looks at it since then. I played really well last year and was just too far behind, and then at Muirfield I was leading on the back nine, and Mickelson finished great and I didn’t. You know, I think I’m playing with a little bit of a chip on my shoulder.”

The chip on the shoulder attitude seems to be working.

"Any time you can go bogey-free at a Major, it's going to be a good round, and in these conditions it was really good. I kind of chipped my way around the golf course and never really seemed to get too far out of position, so I didn't have to scramble too hard," said Scott, who has reunited with Steve Williams, the one-time Tiger Woods bagman, for the meatier part of the season.

Finished fourth

The influence of Williams, who returned to Scott’s bag for last month’s US Open where the player finished fourth, is not to be underestimated. There is a connect, an understanding that is apparent in terms of club selection and of committing to the shot.

“It was the right call for me to make at this point in the year to get him back out and instil a bit of confidence in my game and get back in that flow. He’s a huge factor in the way I’ve played the last few years. I have to absolutely give him a lot of credit for that.

“He helped take my game up to the levels it’s been along with my coach (Brad Malone) the last few years and a lot of hard work from all of us,” accepted Scott.

Like everyone, Scott woke up yesterday morning to wind and rain. Like everyone, he was glad play was suspended. Unlike everyone, he went around the links bogey-free.

“I’m trying to play my way in with a chance. There’s so much golf to be played . . . But you look at the weather forecast, and you don’t know what’s going to happen. It could be extremely challenging . . . The last few years at The Open has been some of my favourite golf.

“Getting into contention at this championship and having a chance to lift the Claret Jug is what it’s all about.”

No more flying in under the radar.