GOLD COAST, Queensland -- Adam Scott can relax and watch Tiger Woods' return to action on Thursday knowing he's in a good position going into the second round of the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Pines.
World No. 7 Scott said ahead of the tournement that he was looking forward kicking back in his downtime and watching Woods' comeback -- and he'll get more time than planned after heavy storms on Australia's east coast saw play suspended for the night.
Scott, champion here in 2013, is three off leader Andrew Dodt, but knows it could have been much better. Scott eagled the par-5 12th after starting the day on the back nine, but then fell down the leaderboard when he missed a par putt to bogey the 18th on the turn.
"I was just treading water for a while," Scott said. "Cautious of going over the green, in between clubs, and you just have to be patient and it paid off because I birdied the last three."
Scott's late run saw him into a six-way tie for fifth at four under, but he is not the only player with his sights on Dodt's lead -- a rampaging Harold Varner III will resume at five under on the 15th hole at 5:30 a.m. local time on Friday. The world No. 191 birdied four consecutive holes midway through his round, and then another on the 13th to leave him equal with countryman Julian Suri and New Zealander Ryan Fox, who each carded five-under-par par 67s in the morning.
But Dodt is confident if he keeps his own game together, he can challenge. He said: "My caddie and I said maybe 10 under (would win it) at the start of the week. So it's nice to be seven after round one. I drove it well, wedged it well and putted well -- it was just solid."
Two-time winner, Greg Chalmers, is five shots off the lead after an inconsistent day to be tied for 21st. He birdied four of his first seven holes after starting on the back nine, but finished the day at two under after three bogeys and just one more birdie.
Defending champion Nathan Holman found trouble to be three over par after his first 11 holes, while Australian Olympian Scott Hend found water on the 12th to double bogey and be two over after the 14th hole.
Englishman Ian Poulter, who recently admitted he is struggling to get back in the right frame of mind for competitive golf, is level par through 15 holes.
AAP contributed to this report.
