Tour Championship Round Two: It's Adam Scott's to throw away this weekend

You should thank your lucky stars I’m not Adam Scott if you’ve backed him this weekend. I’d be so excited right now my clubs would be shaking like a vibrator, not that I have first-hand knowledge of how that oscillates you understand. But there’s quite a few punters out there convinced the excitement, tension or whathaveyou will get to Scott too this weekend. He has form on the American circuit - you may recall for instance how he deferred to Vijay Singh on the final day of the Barclays Classic.

Which is why many are suggesting he is poorly priced at just over 3 going into Saturday’s third round. Sing after me: Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life. But for the rub of the green, Scott could be well in the clear by now. On his own admission he suffered three or four lip-outs Friday, which at least means he is creating plenty of opportunities.

The standings at the half-way stage are uncannily reminiscent of last year when Bart Bryant and Retief Goosen jointly stood three shots clear of a pack of three (it’s four this year). Bryant famously went on to win by six strokes while Goosen faded into the pack. I don’t know if Joe Durant is going to do a Goosen this year, but even he says he is going to have to raise his game a bit over the weekend to stand a chance. He was again somewhat fortunate not to drop a shot on the 18th.

A three-shot cushion is obviously not insurmountable at the half-way stage, but with scoring as tight as it has been this year it’s a tough hill to climb. I reckon those from Ernie Els and beyond are out of it now and even the likes of Jim Furyk and Luke Donald have a mighty challenge. If I’d be afraid of anyone below me it would be Trevor Immelman, who shot the lowest round of the tournament Friday and is a fearsome competitor. But the situation does also present Brett Quigley with the chance to prove he’s in it for more than just the paycheque.

PS: Tom Pernice Jr was sounding like a scratched record about the absence of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, repeating his “slap in the face” line to any passing hack who cared to listen. Interesting to see how it has drawn a strong band of Pernice-haters out of the woodwork. It was pointed out by one that “Pernicious” is big mates with Singh - and he’s no Tiger lover for sure!