Adam Scott (AFP)
Scott leads Australian PGA
Gold Coast - Adam Scott took over the lead at the Australian PGA Championship on Friday on a day when spectators at the Gold Coast Royal Pines course wore green to honour the Masters champion.
Scott fired a four-under par round 67 to move to 10-under for the tournament and lead by two strokes from Australian compatriot David McKenzie with young American Rickie Fowler a shot further away in third.
The world number two, who showed off the green jacket he won at Augusta National following Friday's round, is aiming to complete the triple crown of Australian major titles following his Australian Masters win last year and the 2009 Australian Open crown.
The 33-year-old Australian began his round with a par, birdie and then an eagle on the par-five 12th to move into the front of the field and cheered by his fans clad in the colour synonymous with Augusta National.
Another birdie on his back nine in a second bogey-free round was enough for Scott to take the advantage.
"I am in pretty good shape at the moment ... in with a good chance to win the Australian PGA and that's what I was focused on," he said.
Scott was particularly moved by the support his fellow professionals showed towards support during Friday's round.
"Even the players embraced it (wearing green), which is really special for me, to think that my peers would do that," he said.
"It's nice to see that they enjoyed seeing an Aussie win the Masters too."
McKenzie, carded a two-under 69 to be eight-under, with two bogeys, including one on the 18th, costing him the chance to finish alongside Scott.
Overnight leader Fowler made a brilliant start, holing a 99-yard approach with his second shot on the first to claim an eagle.
But as a stiff northerly wind picked up, Fowler began to find scoring tough with four bogeys ensuring he ended the day with a one-over 72 and a share of third with Nathan Green (69) and Gareth Paddison (67).
"Anything around par to under-par was a good round out there," Fowler said.
"Just kind of held it together. There's usually one tough round in a tournament ... hopefully that was the one that we got out of the way and have two good ones the next two days."
The second round cut was made at two-over the card with 65 golfers making it through to the weekend rounds.
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