Adam Scott admitted to being mentally spent after his Australian Open push stalled with a rare birdie-free round on Friday.
Scott slipped perilously to two-over par for the championship following a lacklustre second-round 73 in relatively easy morning conditions at The Australian Golf Club.
The former world No.1 - and second-highest-ranked player in the 156-man field - will need a weekend charge to have any hope of challenging for a second Open title after a dreadful day with the blade.
He could easily have shot several under par but instead fell seven shots adrift of clubhouse leader Matt Jones after missing a host of short putts.
The 2013 Masters champion's struggles began on the front nine when he three-putted for bogey from five metres on the 11th, then wasted golden birdie opportunities on the 12th and par-5 14th.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
He made another sloppy bogey on the sixth as his woes continued.
Scott, who fought back doggedly from two double-bogeys on Thursday to shoot a respectable even-par 71, blamed a draining season for his troubles.
"Yesterday was tiring and this was my sixth event in the last eight weeks," he said.
"Getting out of bed at four o'clock this morning, I wasn't springing out of bed.
"I just misjudged the pace of the greens for much of the day. I just couldn't get myself to hit the putt hard enough and when the greens slow down I tend to struggle and I did again today."
Scott said he couldn't remember the last time he completed an entire round without a birdie.
"Normally I can sneak one in," he said.
"It wasn't what I was looking for. I was hoping to come out and have a good start and I didn't.
"This is a tough golf course and if you are not spot on you can manage to put yourself in some tricky spots."
The world No.12 isn't throwing in the towel, but knows he must shoot low on Saturday to have any hope of lifting the Stonehaven Cup on Sunday.
"If I can shoot a couple of mid-60s, it is really doable if you play well," he said.
"I just have to put it together."
