PORT Kembla’s Lincoln Tighe dropped four shots in three holes in a disastrous end to his Australian Open second round on Friday.
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The overnight leader, Tighe was still sharing top spot before a double bogey on the 17th followed consecutive bogies on the previous two holes to slip to -3.
Still, his hopes of winning remain alive, four shots off the lead and tied for third after the second round 73 at The Australian course.
The 26-year-old is in elite company, with US superstar and defending champion Jordan Spieth and former US Open winner Geoff Ogilvy also four off leader Matt Jones.
Jones was away early and carded a three-under 68 to be -7.
However, Tighe was on target to take a share of lead at the halfway mark, before being left visibly frustrated on the closing holes.
Spieth was also left to lament what could have been, declaring post-round he felt a low score was in his grasp, only to be denied by persistent cross-winds on a tricky afternoon.
“It was a round that could have been, that was so frustrating to me,” Spieth told Channel Seven.
“I felt I got into a really nice rhythm, I was giving myself opportunities, but we couldn’t quite gauge the wind.
“We couldn’t tell if (the wind) was helping or hurting, because there was so much flip-flopping.”
While Tighe, like Spieth, took time to regroup in a bid to catch Jones on the weekend, the world No 1 remained optimistic about defending his crown.
“I feel like I’ve still got my best golf to be played,” he said.
“That’s what’s positive, I got a few longer putts to go in which was nice.”
Ranked at 1022 after last week’s Australian Masters, Tighe was not the only player to be left frustrated, with Adam Scott carding a round of 73 to be two-over for the tournament and tied for 38th.
Tighe will play the Australian PGA in Queensland next week, before flying back to the US to complete the biggest month of his career.
The long-driving right-hander is in the final stage of the web.com qualifying event, a stepping stone towards his dream of competing on the US PGA Tour.
Wollongong’s Jordan Zunic, who won the NZ Open earlier this year, missed the cut, finishing at +8, following rounds of 76 and 74.
Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts was the big mover on day two, carding a five-under round to also be level with Tighe at -3 overall.
New Zealander Daniel Pearce produced a stunning first nine, with six birdies, include five consecutive holes under the card, before slipping back late in the round playing on the front nine.
