Adam Scott – file photo
While much of the focus was on the potential defence of the title by Australian Cameron Davis, it was his fellow countryman, Adam Scott, who put his hand up in the opening two rounds of the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit.
Scott finds himself in a share of 7th place after a second round of 66 and he is six shots behind leader Canadian Taylor Pendrith as the event heads into the weekend.
Jason Day who has slipped to 150th in the world rankings is tied for 35th and at 5 under par and tens shots from the lead while Davis himself only just made the cut on the number at 3 under par after being unable to capitalise on his opening 68.
“Yeah, it’s a good start,” said Scott. “Yesterday I think we in the afternoon had the toughest conditions and 3 under was a pretty good score, especially when there was a lot of low numbers already posted before I teed off.
“So I kind of, I clawed my way around yesterday and nearly really got it going today and generally playing pretty solid. I’m sure I’ll be quite a few back starting the weekend, but my game is in a good spot and I think I can play well on the weekend and make up the ground.”
Scott was asked about a change of the angle of attack in his driving and explained; “Well, I made a conscious effort after the U.S. Open when I started practicing a week or so after the U.S. Open to change that because although my play is OK, generally.
“I think if a couple of errant drives a day was costing me the chance of shooting rounds like today or even the good rounds I played at the open at St. Andrews, so just bringing the ball a little more under control. It’s funny because I haven’t — I don’t feel like I’ve sacrificed any distance even though we all think you’ve got to launch it high to hit it far.
“But it’s helpful when you play St. Andrews to do that because it runs. So I didn’t feel like I was sacrificing too much, but I’ve certainly hit more fairways and feel like I’m going to.”
Scott is currently in 72nd place in the FedEx Cup standings but given current circumstances with the LIV Golf defectors that will improve and if he can finish this week off week, then even further.
The leader Pendrith is yet to win on the PGA Tour but was twice a winner in Canada. He leads by one over his fellow first round leader and last week’s winner, Tony Finau,
