Adam Scott is confident the drama of TPC Sawgrass will help his and Jason Day's quest to chase down the equal-largest 36-hole deficit in Players Championship history.
Defending Players champion Day and compatriot Scott face uphill battles in the third round of the US PGA Tour event in Florida, after a pair of even-par 72s left the Australian duo at two under and well back of co-leaders Louis Oosthuizen and Kyle Stanley.
South Africa's Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open winner, and American Stanley each fired a superb 66 to surge to nine under and a two-shot buffer over JB Holmes (69).
Victory for either Scott or world No.3 Day would tie the record for 36-hole comeback (seven shots) at golf's unofficial fifth major, set by South Africa's Tim Clark in 2010.
Scott, who became the youngest winner at the Players (aged 23) in 2004, believes the notoriously difficult par-3 17th is one of many obstacles that will prevent a runaway leader.
"(The Players Championship) is right up there with the majors for extreme consequences for bad shots. TPC Sawgrass has water hazards everywhere and it's very hard to escape that," Scott told AAP.
"You think of big moments on No.17 over the years; something dramatic happens on that hole."
The 36-year-old Scott, chasing his first Tour win in 14 months, is confident of delivering his best golf during the weekend rounds.
"I could be leading the tournament. The game is right there where it needs to be, I just need to eliminate a couple mistakes over the weekend," said Scott.
The 29-year-old Day and Scott share 23rd place, while Aaron Baddeley (73) was next best of the Australians at one under, tied for 34th.
Queensland veteran Rod Pampling, 47, made the two-over cut on the number after a 74.
Of the Australians to miss the weekend, youngster Cameron Smith (four over) was the biggest casualty in his first event since breaking through for his maiden Tour victory at the Zurich Classic two weeks ago.
The 23-year-old shot a 77 and joined countrymen Rod Pampling (two over), Marc Leishman (four over) and Greg Chalmers (six over) in failing to make the cut.
Two-time major winner Jordan Spieth (75) was the highest-profile player to go home early at four over.
World No.1 Dustin Johnson sits at even-par after a third-round 73.
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