Adam Scott is looking for an extra gear despite setting up a two-shot lead at the halfway mark of the World Golf Championships event at Trump National Doral.
Fresh off winning on the US PGA tour last week and finishing runner-up the week before, Scott continued his red hot form with a second round six-under-66 to rocket to 10-under-134 for the tournament, two clear at the top.
But Scott expects the chasing pack to come at him hard, with no shortage of stars lining up behind him.
Fellow former world No.1 Rory McIlroy (65) and defending champion Dustin Johnson (64) sit tied second at eight-under.
Among the other stars near the top are two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson (69) who is tied fifth at six under and five-time major winner Phil Mickelson (72) who sits tied seventh at five under.
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"It's just the start you want in a World Golf Championships. But look at the leaderboard, I'm sure it's going to be an amazing weekend out here," Scott said.
"I hope I can keep my game at this high level for two more days and be in the hunt.
"I'd like to find a little extra gear this weekend. I think I'll probably need it to win with the quality of leaderboard we've got, and that will be the test for me."
The world No.9 is playing so well he even called his round "mediocre" despite notching up eight birdies and just two bogeys.
And he plans to keep the roll going as long as he can despite admitting to being a little fatigued.
"I was just kind of hanging onto DJ's (Johnson) coattails today. He played beautiful. My round was just mediocre compared to his," Scott said.
"There is momentum and it's a huge factor. The trick is figuring out how to use it and maintain it, keep it going from week-to-week.
"So far this week, I've done a good job. Now the weekend is a different animal.
"I'm probably a little more relaxed this week leading going into the weekend than if I had not won last week, but a 36-hole lead doesn't mean that much unless it's by about 10. I could tee off tomorrow and not be leading."
It was a tough day out for the rest of the Australian contingent.
Overnight co-leader Marcus Fraser crashed down the leaderboard with a 77 leaving him one under and nine shots back as the next best Australian.
World No.2 Jason Day continues his poor record at Doral, shooting 74 to join Marc Leishman (73) at two over.
Jordan Zunic (+5), Scott Hend (+7), Nathan Holman (+8) and Steven Bowditch (+17) are well off the pace in the no-cut event.
