Australia's Jason Day is proud to have held himself together on a day in which he and Adam Scott played well but made no ground in golf's World Cup.
Day started Friday's second round at Royal Melbourne two shots off the lead, Scott was nine off the pace and as a team, they were six shots behind.
By day's end, Day was four off the lead, Scott still nine adrift and their hopes of winning the Cup for Australia had slipped further, as they fell seven shots behind leaders the United States.
Day is still well in contention for individual honours, equal third after shooting a one-under-par 70 to take him to four-under.
Denmark's Thomas Bjorn leads on eight-under, with American Kevin Streelman a shot back in second.
But Day could have been much closer.
After his only bogey of the day on the par-4 11th, birdie putts lipped out on the 12th and 13th holes.
On the 17th, his approach rolled over the hole and his birdie putt of less than three metres then teetered on the edge, but wouldn't drop.
"This course can make you want to snap your clubs over your knees," Day said.
"It's really hard to control that frustration sometimes.
Strong crowd support and calming words from caddie Col Swatton helped.
"This is a kind of course that will frustrate you and make you make mental errors and you just can't let that happen," Day said.
Scott, who shot a four-over 75 on Thursday, also had his frustrating moments despite carding 68 on Friday to reach one-over.
But while the world No.2 had five birdies, he also lipped out for eagle after a brilliant drive on the 285m par-4 sixth and then lipped out again with his birdie putt from a little over a metre.
He also lost ground with a double-bogey on the par 4 11th, when he reached a greenside bunker in one, but needed two bunker shots and three putts.
Scott hasn't given up on individual or team honours.
"It would be nice if I could play my way up there to the top few individually tomorrow and tee off around Jason (on Sunday) as well," Scott said.
"We both just have to play well over the weekend, but the teams competition is well within our reach.
"(Seven) shots between two people can change very quickly."
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