Adam Scott is in survival mode as he braces for a second round he is tipping will sort the British Open contenders from from pretenders at Royal Birkdale.
Savage winds of up to 65km/h are predicted to sweep through the Southport links on Friday, leaving Scott more concerned about being blown out of the Open than worrying just yet about winning the Claret Jug.
"It's too early to worry about that," Australia's former Masters champion and world No.1 said after his teasing first-round one-under-par 69 left him four off the pace.
"Tomorrow's weather conditions will be really interesting because I think it's going to be windy, and that will spread the field.
"If the leader plays well, they'll create some space. So if it is windy, I've got to hang in there and somehow post a good number so I'm not too far off the pace.
"You want to be not too far behind, so we'll see. There's so much golf to play, four shots is nothing over 54."
With four top-10s in the past five years, including his infamous second after being four strokes up with four to play at Royal Lytham in 2012, Scott feels better equipped than most to handle whatever the weather gods throw up.
"I've played lots of golf in the wind. You've got to go out and stay calm and very patient," he said.
"It's hard to fight the wind here. Just have to do your best. You can only hit good shots."
Scott's 69 could easily have been 65 on Thursday, but he refused to dwell on his putter once again letting him down.
"In the 60s, first round of a major, is a good start. It could have been a couple better, sure, but you can't really look at it like that," the resilient Queenslander said.
"I mean, it certainly can go the other way easily at majors. So if someone offered that up, I would have taken that. I'm playing well.
"So I know there are good scores out there, but I've got to put it all together.
"I've got a make a couple more of those six or seven-footers for par and one or two better swings and now you're talking 65.
"So it's not far away."
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