It was a disappointing opening two rounds for Adam Scott in his title defence at the WGC Mexico Championship but there were encouraging signs at the weekend with back to back sub-par efforts.

The 2013 Masters champion was far from his best Thursday in opening with a 2-over 73 but it was his Friday round that caused most concern.

A 5-over 76 was Scott’s worst score on the PGA TOUR in years with several missed short putts contributing the blowout.

But Scott showed tenacity over the weekend and hit back with two good rounds, a pair of 3-under 68’s at the tricky Club de Golf Chapultepec layout moving him from the bottom third of the field to the top half.

While hardly the result he was looking for it gives the Queenslander some positives to take as the year’s first major begins to take centre stage in the minds of the world’s top players.

While Scott saved his best till last European Tour rookie Sam Brazel suffered the opposite fate, The Hong Kong Open winner playing solid golf in his first WGC appearance until faltering with four holes to go.

Brazel signed for credible scores of 75-68-70 over the first three days and was even par through 14 holes of his final round when disaster struck.

He hit his third shot in the water at the par-5 6^th (his 15^th) and made a double bogey then left a greenside bunker shot in the sand at the par-3 next on his way to another double bogey.

It was an unfortunate run of play after a decent week in elevated company but the Lismore native will no doubt have learnt some valuable lessons from his week in Mexico.

Marcus Fraser suffered a not dissimilar fate when he wracked up a triple bogey at his 16^th hole Sunday on his way to a final round 75 and T58 finish.

Michael Hendry (T52) played his best golf Sunday with a 2-under 69 while Scott Hend (T65) and Matt Griffin (75^th) found the going tough from Thursday.