Scott holds 2nd-round lead

SYDNEY (AP) ― Adam Scott held a two-shot advantage over Rory McIlroy as the tournament’s star players moved to the top of the Australian Open leaderboard at Royal Sydney on Friday.

Scott shot 2-under-par 70 for a two-round total of 12-under 132. McIlroy, playing in the morning and avoiding the rain and storms that later hit the course, had a 65.

Scott and McIlroy will play together on Saturday in the third round.

“It was always going to be a day where you just had to hang on,” Scott said of the tough conditions.

“He (McIlroy) is one of the best players in the world so I’m going to have to bring my best game.”

Australian Richard Green shot 66 and was three strokes behind Scott, who is trying to add the Australian Open to his Australian PGA and Australian Masters titles to become the second player after Robert Allenby in 2005 to capture the Triple Crown of Australian majors.

McIlroy felt lucky to have escaped the worsening conditions.