Adam Scott relishing chance to 'put two hands on Claret Jug' after 2012 slip up

Adam Scott had one hand on the Claret Jug a decade ago and now he’s hoping that he can turn that into two in the 150th Open.

The Australian, who stormed up the leaderboard with a second-round 65 at St Andrews, squandered a four-shot lead down the stretch as he was pipped by Ernie Els at Royal Lytham in 2012.

“You don't need much extra motivation at an Open Championship,” said Scott, who sits on seven-under - six behind leader Cameron Smith - in a group that also includes 2021 FedEx Cup winner Patrick Cantlay. “But anytime I think about letting one slip through my hands, it hurts.

“And it would be exciting if I shot a really great round tomorrow to tee off with a legitimate feeling that I'm in contention.

“Not only for the fact that I haven't really been in that position for a major for a little while, but also for the fact that I've had one on this jug, I feel like, and I'd like to put two on.”

Scott, a former Masters champion, played with Dustin Johnson, who is also in contention at the halfway stage, in the opening two rounds.

“He's a guy I enjoy playing with,” he said of the laid-back American. “I like watching him play. Some guys you can feed off. And some guys you prefer not to watch.

“And Dustin, I think, has a nice rhythm in the way he plays. I've always felt I benefit from that. He started getting it going around the turn and playing nicely coming in. And I was just trying to keep pace with him.”