Adam Scott on the cut line at US Open

Masters champion Adam Scott was facing an agonizing wait overnight Friday to find out if he would make the cut at the US Open.

The Australian hero struggled with his putting in Friday’s second round at punishing Merion Golf Club and he ended the day with a 75 to stand at seven over for the tournament.

The axe was forecast to fall at either plus six or plus seven, depending on how the late finishers in the second round fare on Saturday morning, over four hours of play having been lost to bad weather on Thursday.

Scott, whose playoff win in the Masters in April was the first by an Australian at Augusta National after a long and heartbreaking run of second-place finishes, had started his second round late Thursday.

But when he and playing partners Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy came back out at 7:15 on Friday morning they found conditions to be decidely colder.

“I was a little disappointed with the way I played today,” he admitted.

“I just lost my rhythm early this morning when it was a bit cold and windy and just fought with it all day long and the putter kind of cooled off. So I would have liked to make some putts and then you’re always happy.”

Still, Scott was not ruling himself out of contention for back-to-back major wins, provided he could duck under the cut and make it through to the weekend.

“I still see those, you know, four or five unders possible,” he said.

“It’s difficult, but it’s still possible with it soft. You just have to hit every shot perfect. And for one day, I mean, it is doable.

“So someone who just makes the cut could have a great round Saturday and move their way back into the tournament. I don’t see that beyond the realm of possibility. It’s out there, for sure.”

With or without Scott, there will be a strong Australian presence at the weekend in the bid to become the first Australian to win the US Open since David Graham did so at Merion in 1981.

John Senden and Mathew Goggin were both placed well up the leaderboard with 42-year-old Senden feeling that his game is suited to Merion and to US Open courses in general.

“It demands good ball-striking, I think, and good putting,” he said after adding a 71 to his opening effort of 70.

“I like hitting the long irons well. There’s a lot of long irons off the tee and a lot of long irons into the greens. So if I play my game and hit them well, hopefully I’ll do well.

“And the same thing last year at Olympic. It probably didn’t measure that long, but it was a lot of long second shots, and the par 3s are long there.

“The same sort of deal. I think this golf course is similar.”

Goggin had to play an exhausting 30 holes Friday but still managed a 74 to go with his opening round of 68.

It had been a gruelling effort he admitted on a relentlessly tough golf course.

“The only thing harder than 30 holes of US Open golf on one day is 31 holes,” he said.

“This is hard. Mentally it’s very difficult. Any bad tee shot and you’re just grinding trying to make a par. You just keep the ball in play.”

Asked what he hoped for on Saturday, the Tasmanian replied: “Not having to play as many holes!”

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