Scott shoots 68, shrugs off Open setback

• By Ryan Lavner
• Aug 9, 2012 7:35 PM ET

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – Wondering how Adam Scott would recover from his British Open collapse?

Rather well, thank you.

The Australian, still only three weeks removed from his epic disappointment at Royal Lytham, birdied each of the par 5s Thursday on his way to a 4-under 68 that left him two shots off the lead in the PGA Championship.

“So far, so good,” Scott said afterward. “It would be great to put two more rounds together and be coming here Sunday with a good look at the championship. Otherwise, you know, then I’ll really feel like I’ve let it all slip this year for me.”

A final verdict on his majors season can be rendered Sunday, of course. (Let’s not forget, he hasn’t posted a finish worse than 15^th in the majors this season.) Meanwhile, Scott got off to a strong start on the Ocean Course, hitting all but one fairway and 13 of 18 greens while playing in the more difficult afternoon wave, when the wind off the Atlantic gusted up to 25 mph.

Scott returned to the PGA Tour last week at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. He lost his rhythm a bit as the week progressed, leading to a disappointing T-45 finish, but the Aussie headed to Kiawah Island feeling optimistic about his game.

On Thursday, Scott described the support here as “tremendous” and added that, “it’s nice that they want to see me play well.”

The most satisfying part?

“That was a pretty good round of golf,” he said.