Let’s go back to Thursday afternoon and the short walk from the ninth green to the 10th tee at The Australian Golf Club.

Adam Scott is 5-over and already battling to stay in contention at the Australian Open.

By his own admission, he wasn’t feeling good. Looking to make amends for last year’s loss to Rory McIlroy, Scott’s assault on the national championship – and as a result his pursuit of the Stonehaven Cup – was already on life support.

Now fast forward to this afternoon. Scott found himself in the thick of it after firing a 2-under 69 in the third round.

Scott was at 4-under at the close of play on a testing day for the entire field – good enough for a share of fourth, albeit only one shot behind leaders Brett Rumford, Jordan Spieth and Greg Chalmers.

Given where he was midway through his opening round, Scott acknowledged he was in a good place.
"Absolutely," Scott said.

"I was not feeling great going to the 10th tee and managed to claw my way back into it and hopefully have a shout when it comes to the last tomorrow."

"It’s a tough day out there but I think I struck the ball really well, solid. So it didn’t feel like I was grinding. It just felt like it was tough going."

"I thought I had everything under control. Shame to miss a couple of short ones but I made up for it on 17 with a long one."

Scott’s day got off to the ideal start when he made birdie at his opening hole. He had to wait until the ninth before he came across another.

A slip at the 10th meant he handed a shot back but he managed to mitigate some of that damage when he drained a long putt at is penultimate hole.

After a week which started with Scott seeking revenge on world No.1 Rory McIlroy for last year’s defeat at the Open, the Queenslander is close enough if good enough come tomorrow’s final round.

The same can’t be said for his chief rival. McIlroy drifted out of contention after firing a five over par 76 in the difficult conditions. He needs a miracle, although if anyone can do it, it is the Ulsterman.

The same could be said for Scott, whose pedigree is without question.

"In these conditions it is going to take an incredible round just to make sure you are in with a chance in the last few holes," Scott said.

"Probably saw it slip pretty quickly for a few guys out there today."

"If you’re not careful that can happen. I certainly don’t want to be thinking that I am right from the first tee."

"In conditions like this it is hard to separate, it is hard to get it close. When pins are tough, it is very difficult to get it inside that
10 foot range where you’re expecting to make a lot."

"So you can get it around here not playing your best if you’re scrambling well. But if you’re not playing well, you have to take your chances and then there is a chance to separate.

"But that’s not going to happen easy."