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Adam Scott Faces Anxious Wait At Open

ADAM SCOTT. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Adam Scott survived a wicked break on the last hole of the Australian Open second round but still faces a nervous wait to see if he makes the 36-hole cut.

The pre-tournament favourite left himself with an uphill Friday battle to make the cut after an opening round of four-over 75 at The Australian GC in Sydney.

A four-under 67 has brought the Queenslander back to even par.

Scott, who teed off on the 10th, showed class to pick up three birdies before the turn.

He added another on the seventh (his 16th) to claw it back to even par, the projected cut number, with two holes remaining.

Then a horrible break at the ninth had the former world No.1 against the ropes.

With 324 metres to reach the water hazard on the par-4, the 2013 Masters winner thought his drive was safe when he blasted it down the left side of the fairway.

But it rolled into the hazard and forced Scott to take a penalty drop, then scramble for par from 100 metres out.

"I didn't try and hammer it, it must have gotten a firm bounce down there," Scott said.

Scott hit a sublime wedge shot and stood over an eight-foot, downhill putt to give himself a chance at making the cut.

He drained the par putt, a fist pump showing how much the 2009 Open winner wanted to avoid missing the weekend.

With the top 60 professionals and ties making the cut, Scott will wait to see if the afternoon wave affects the cut line.

"I knew (even par) was going to be around the number," said a relieved Scott.

"I was just pleased to make some good swings out there today it was much better than yesterday.

If he is to make the weekend, Scott has not ruled out his chances of victory but admits they are slim.

"It'd be tough; I'd need a lot of things to go my way. But an early start (Saturday) and then a windy afternoon (could help).

"Stranger things have happened in golf.

"Hopefully, I didn't shoot myself in the foot with a bad round yesterday ... I'd like to play two more rounds and keep working on this.

"If I can get well under par, if I get to play again, would be a nice weekend and I can take a bit of confidence into (the Presidents Cup) next week."