Adam Scott surged into contention once again at the Open with a solid bogey-free round of 67 yesterday, which took him to seven-under par and just two shots behind clubhouse leader Danny Willett.

It's been a superb run in the Open for the Aussie, his last three finishes being inside the top-five. Having drastically cut down on his schedule – he has played just nine tournaments this season so far – he needed something special to arrest his slide in the world rankings.

The reunion with his former caddie Steve Williams seems to have done the trick and after a good US Open, he is again in the mix at The Open.

Scott's round by numers

5 – Birdies he made in a bogey-free round

11 – His world ranking coming into this week

12 – Fairways, out of 16, Scott hit off the tee

15 – Opens Scott has played before this one

17 – Greens in regulation he hit yesterday

31 – Putts Scott needed to finish the round

64 – His lowest Open round – first round in 2012

302 – Average driving distance of Scott yesterday

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Shot of the Day

Let’s give it to the brilliant 20-feet birdie putt by Nick Faldo on the Road Hole. The notorious 17th of the Old Course did not yield even a single birdie on the first day, but three-time Open champion brought it to it’s knees with a 20-feet birdie putt from off the green. It went over the massive ridge and tracked right into the heart of the cup.

Quote of the Day

“Unfortunately I’ve won two of them already, so it’s not going to be life-changing or anything like that, but it would be nice to get into contention coming down the stretch and perform.”

– Two-time Open champion Padraig Harrington when asked what a third Open would mean to him.

Stats of the Day

345 yards – the longest average drive recorded at The Open so far – by American Gary Woodland. He enjoys a massive 13-yard advantage over the second-placed Bubba Watson.

4 – birdies on the par-4 17th so far, thus doing its reputation as one of the most difficult holes in the world no harm. All four came yesterday, with not a single birdie on the opening day.