Scott poised to strike

Australia&aposs Adam Scott said he is a perfectly placed to make a charge over the weekend and claim his first gold jacket at the Talisker Masters. Scott carded an impressive round of 70 in trying conditions at Kingston Heath on Friday and sits in third place overall, some three shots behind outright leader and fellow Queenslander Matthew Guyatt. The world number five had to battle a strong southerly breeze throughout his round and call on all of his experience just to keep in touch with Guyatt as the challengers fell away on a tough second day in Melbourne&aposs south-east. But Scott was up for the tough test and the 32-year-old now feels he is primed to challenge over the next two rounds. “I think I am in pretty good shape,” Scott said after his round. “It was a tough day out there, but I was pretty much in play all day. “There&aposs only two people in front of me… so not too many people to pass to get to where I want to be.” Strong winds of up to 30 km/h are expected on Saturday and Sunday – conditions Scott feels he will be suited to. “I am up for the challenge if the wind&aposs going to be up,” he said. “I think I&aposm striking the ball well enough to get it around here in the wind for two more days.” Scott was the only player to finish in the top three on the leaderboard to be affected by the strong winds late in the day, as Guyatt and second-placed Michael Hendry both finished their rounds before the big gusts arrived. That didn&apost seem to bother Scott too much, with the Queenslander more than happy to talk up the man at the top of the leaderboard who he knows through a mutual friend. “It&aposs good to see him (Guyatt) playing well and using the right apparatus on the green,” Scott joked, making reference to the duo&aposs use of the much talked about broomstick putter. “We have known each other a long time, since pennant days back in Queensland, and we have a lot of friends. “It&aposs great for him and hopefully I can play well enough and I might be able to get a game with him Sunday.” But Scott said that will all be forgotten if they are paired together in the final group on the final day of the tournament. “Anything he gets, he thoroughly deserves and I wish him all the best for the next two days, but I&aposll be gunning for him,” Scott added.