Adam Scott is right in the mix after moving into a tie for fifth after the second round of the lucrative US PGA Players Championship. Scott scratched out a two under par 70 to move to six-under par for the tournament, just two shots behind leaders Zach Johnson (66), Kevin Na (69) and Matt Kuchar (68), who sit on top at eight under par. American youngster Harris English (67) moved into fourth alone at seven under par while Scott is joined by Charlie Wi (67), Martin Laird (73), Jonathan Byrd (70) and Brian Davis (70) in the clubhouse at six-under. Scott’s first round 68 could have easily been a 64 such was his crisp ball-striking but his second round 70 could have easily been a 76 as the Queenslander found himself a little out of sorts. To his credit he ground out an under par round with four birdies and two bogeys to ensure he’ll be right amongst it heading to the weekend. “I didn’t hit my best shots out on the golf course but managed to get it around,” Scott said. “I’m playing fairly good, so my scratchy stuff was good enough today.” Starting on the back nine Scott’s opening tee shot was loose and was very lucky not to catch a tree not far from the tee box, but he ground out the first of several impressive par saves. On the par five 11th, his second, Scott played a pretty flop shot from just off the green to eight feet and then made the putt for the first of his birdies. His first dropped shot came after an errant tee shot on the 14th hole left him buried on a severe mound, forcing a baseball style swing with the ball at eye level just to advance back to the fairway. When he couldn’t coax a nine-footer in for par the card was blotted for the first time. Scott then managed to birdie the 16th, another par five, and started to reign in the leaders when he hit it tight on the first and rolled in another birdie putt. The 31-year-old looked set to make a play for the lead pack when he nailed a long 26-foot birdie bomb on the fourth and then went within a whisker or dropping in a 58-footer the very next hole. But a bogey on the eighth for the second day running from the same greenside bunker stalled his run. His finish remained somewhat sour when despite getting aboard the par five ninth in two shots he three-putted from 27 feet to settle for par. “A bit disappointing to three jack the last, but I’m in good shape going into the weekend,” Scott said. “I’m within shouting distance of the leaders which is pleasing.” Tiger Woods appeared certain to miss the cut before four straight birdies either side of the turn helped him to two-under par and into a tie for 30th. Rod Pampling, Geoff Ogilvy and Marc Leishman were the next best Australians in at one under par in a tie for 41st. Robert Allenby (even) made the cut on the number while John Senden (+1), Nick O’Hern (+1), Jason Day (+1), Greg Chalmers (+4) and Aaron Baddeley (+11) were all sent home packing early.
