World number one Jason Day is maintaining hope he can still contend at The Open despite being 11 shots off the pace.
Rain and wind hit Royal Troon on Friday and the Australian carded a gutsy one-under 70 in brutal conditons to sit at one over for the championship in a tie for 41st.
MORE: Frustrated Day hoping to inch into contention |
Despite being well behind leader Phil Mickelson, who is at 10 under, Day remains positive and believes he can still work his way into a winning position.
"I was kind of hoping for days like this where it is harder," he said.
"Unfortunately the guys in the morning definitely had the advantage over the last two days, which is totally fine. You get lucky in draws like this playing the Open Championship.
"But it's nice to be able to come into a day like this knowing that I need to play good golf, get on top of my game and shoot 70. Get myself back to making the cut.
"Hopefully over the next two days get myself back into contention. That would be nice."
Day described the conditions on Friday as "atrocious" as he battled through with four birdies and three bogeys.
The 2015 PGA Championship winner knows the form Mickelson is in, but also that there is a long way to go.
"It all depends on what the weather conditions bring us," Day said.
"But obviously I've got to go into the next couple days with a positive attitude regardless how the weather is, because it's going to be hard on everyone. It's going to be hard to win a major tournament.
"Phil has been playing some tremendous golf over the last two days, but you just never know what's going to happen in major tournaments.
"I've just got to keep trying to push forward and trying to get myself back into contention somehow."
Marc Leishman carded an afternoon-best 69 to also be one over for the championship along with Greg Chalmers (71), while Scott Hend (73) is just two over despite also being caught up in what Day described as the worst storm he’d ever encountered on a golf course.