Matthew Guyatt/ Wayne Ludbey/Herald Sun
Queenslander Matthew Guyatt is the man to catch in the Talisker Australian Masters after the 37-year-old followed his sizzling opening round of 65 with a composed -3 under par, 69 at Kingston Heath Golf Course on Friday, for a total tournament score of -10 under par.
Matthew said was aware of the charging Kiwi, Michael Hendry, but was not worried;
“I wasn’t worried, I just went back and focused. I was pretty relaxed. Standing on 18 and seeing your name up the top, it’s a pretty good feeling. That’s where everyone playing this week wants to be. I don’t know how it’s going to be tomorrow when I stand on the tee, I know I’m going to be nervous, there’s no doubt about that, I’m not going to say I’m not because I will be. But it’s about hopefully having the routine and all the work we’ve done on my routine and having that hold me in good stead so that I can pull the trigger and really be able to deal with whatever outcome comes. I actually said to my caddie it was looking like Mike Hendry might be the guy I get paired with. I said that wouldn’t be bad because I’ve travelled a little bit on OneAsia this year with Mike and get along well with him. That might be a good initiation into the final group rather than a Poulter or an Adam Scott or someone like that where the crowds are going to be heavily increased.”
Michael Hendry also had a second round of -3 under par, 69. to be two shots behind the leader, and alone in second place. Michael said he was playing risk free golf;
“I hit a lot of greens and put myself in position off the tee which is probably the key around here. I wasn’t making it tough on myself to make par. My course management got me round. I had a lot of really solid shots. I was taking clubs off the tee that weren’t going to get me a long way down there, but they were always going to be pretty risk-free.”
Adam Scott, the world number five is in third place, three shots off the lead after his second round of -2 under par 70.
Ian Poulter failed to keep pace with the leaders, shooting a second round of par, 72, which left him five shots adrift of the top of the leaderboard. A very somber Ian told reporters;
“The course plays much different in the wind. It’s a completely different course, I’m frustrated. I’m not going to stand here laughing, am I? I’ve shot level par and I’m disappointed. I’m not going to be standing here very jolly, am I? I’ve left shots out there on the golf course. I’m five off the lead but I’m pissed off with my round of golf. Simple.”
