Adam Scott’s bid to reel in British Open leader Rory McIlroy started slowly as the second round began in testing conditions at Royal Liverpool.

The Australian world No.1 started Friday two shots adrift of the Northern Irishman, who opened with a six-under 66 on Thursday.

In sunny but windy conditions, Scott started his second round solidly with a par on the first hole however his broomstick putter went cold.

He missed two short putts to make back-to-back bogeys on the second and third holes.

Scott, though, steadied to pick up a birdie on the par-5 fifth and claw back to within three shots of McIlroy after six holes.

For the second straight day McIlroy is expected to get the better of the conditions with conditions expected to settle in the afternoon, though there is some chance of thunderstorms.

Scott said after his opening-round 68 he was determined to keep McIlroy within in his sights.

“You’ve got to keep pace with a guy like Rory,” he said of McIlroy, whose wins at the 2011 US Open and 2012 PGA Championship both came by eight shots.

“He has the potential to really put his foot down. I’ve seen him shoot lots of low rounds and there’s nothing stopping him from doing that tomorrow either.

“I don’t want him running away. We’ve seen that happen.

“He wins majors by eight.”

Jason Day had made a steady start to his second round, even par for the day through eight holes to remain at one over.

Day is still being plagued by a left thumb injury and was clearly in discomfort at times during his opening round.

Bryden Macpherson again found the going tough but the young Australian was still much-improved from his disastrous eighteen-over-par 90 in the opening round – the tournament’s highest round score in 15 years.

He was six over for the day with four holes to play to be 24 over for the tournament.

Marc Leishman (-3), Matt Jones (-1), John Senden (-1) and Rhein Gibson (even) were among the afternoon starters.

South African George Coetzee had enjoyed the round of the morning so far, three under through 14 holes to close within a shot of McIlroy.