Adam Scott, Jason Day and fearless rookie Lucas Herbert have given themselves a fighting chance to bring home the Claret Jug after surviving sapping second rounds at the British Open.
Scott is Australia's only player in red numbers after grinding out a one-under-par 70 to be one under for the championship and five shots behind Carnoustie's clubhouse leader, Zach Johnson.
Day lamented finishing bogey, bogey, bogey for a 71 to be even par, having been only two off the lead late in his round in driving rain.
"It was miserable out there. It didn't stop raining the whole time," a drenched Day told AAP.
"It was just tough because by the end of it everything was wet. My whole bag's wet, my clubs are wet.
"So it was a tough finish with a little bit of wind and the rain and being cold.
"I wish I could have the last four holes back but it is what it is. Hopefully the lead doesn't get too far out and I can get some nice weather tomorrow.
"Even if it's windy, as long as it's not wet, I'll try and get myself back into it."
Scott also suffered a late momentum killer, missing an eight-foot birdie putt at the last that would have put him to two under and inside the top 10.
"I feel pretty good," Scott said.
"My game didn't feel great today. I just didn't have the rhythm going this morning and didn't feel as good as yesterday.
"But it's funny because I wanted to make that one on the last, obviously but didn't and missed a couple of short ones early in the round and still shot one under anyway.
"So maybe I'm playing better than I think, which is a good thing.
"Hopefully I've got my best stuff on the weekend. I'm going to have to have a really good round - that five-under round, ideally tomorrow - to get myself somehow into this tournament."
Herbert, 22 and making his Open debut, produced Australia's best round of the day, a 69 to join Day at level with the card and in the weekend hunt.
"Fairly happy with that one. Tough conditions out there," he said.
"It's not quite the worst British Open conditions, I'd imagine, but it's starting to show its teeth a bit more and why Scotland is known for it and I thought I battled it really well."
Cameron Davis, on debut, is not out of it either, but will also need a weekend charge after signing for a 72 to be one over.
Marc Leishman posted his second straight 72 to be two over and eight shots off the pace.
"I'm just hoping that it dries up. I've done if before from a long way back," Leishman said.
"Hopefully that's what I'll do. Still two rounds left, I'm striking the ball well. I'm optimistic, put it that way."
Cameron Smith is also two over and right on the cut line after a second-round 71.
HOW THE AUSSIES ARE FARING AFTER THEIR SECOND ROUNDS OF THE BRITISH OPEN:
141: Adam Scott 71-70 142: Jason Day 71-71, Lucas Herbert 73-69 143: Cameron Davis 71-72 144: Marc Leishman 72-72 144: Cameron Smith 73-71
