BY STEVE KEIPERT at ROYAL SYDNEY

The promoters of the Emirates Australian Open have their wish – the two marquee attractions sit 1-2 at the halfway point of the national championship.

Adam Scott and Rory McIlroy will go head-to-head in the final group for tomorrow's third round as one bids to clinch the Triple Crown and the other seeks to build positive momentum for the 2014 season. It promises to be a great battle of the heavyweights … World No.2, versus World No.6 respectively.

Adam Scott holes his chip at the 3rd hole in what is best described as a hard fought day on the course. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

On a damp, uncomfortable day when good scores blew away on the swirling winds, McIlroy fed off his good finish to the first round to card a seven-under-par 65 in the morning and moved to ten-under, while Scott survived in the afternoon to shoot a respectable 70 to lead the Northern Irishman by two shots after 36 holes at Royal Sydney.

Scott's play see-sawed in the testing conditions. Having driven the par-4 1st green for a two-putt birdie, he executed a pure bump-and-run shot at the short 3rd, after coming up shy of the green, which dropped for another birdie. It was such a perfect chip that it would have gone in a thimble. Which is just as well because one hole later he struck two wretched chips – the first of which didn't finish any nearer the hole than when he hit it – to run up a double-bogey that negated the quick start.

Scott bogeyed the next when a short par putt skimmed the cup but he fought back with birdies at the 7th, 8th, 12th and 13th to reach 13-under. A bogey-birdie-bogey run from the 15th hole cut Scott's three-shot edge to two.

Overall, the 2009 Australian Open Champion was satisfied with the round and relishing the chance to play alongside McIlroy tomorrow after their most recent pairing at the US Open.

"It was a tough afternoon," Scott said. "There was plenty of good stuff in there but I made a few mistakes in the tricky conditions but overall it was pretty good.

“It was never going to be easy once I warmed up on the range and got to the 1st tee and it was really blowing. It was going to be a day when you just had to hang on and try to hit as many good shots as possible."

There were good crowds following McIlroy and Scott, despite the rain. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

McIlroy, on the other hand, bogeyed only the difficult 4th and 17th holes amid nine birdies gathered mostly on the shorter, more susceptible holes and the par-5s. The dual major winner is gaining confidence with every round logged as he looks to put a miserable 2013 season behind him.

"I played well [and] putted much better today than I did yesterday, too, so that was a big positive. I'm in a great position going into the weekend," said McIlroy, revealing that he began reading putts from behind the hole to enhance his read of the Royal Sydney greens.

"I feel like I'm playing well. I'm hitting the ball well off the tee and giving myself plenty of chances. It was good to see a few more putts go in today. As I've said for the past few weeks, the game is feeling much better and I'm much more comfortable with it."

Rory McIlroy appeared more relaxed on the golf course than at any other stage this year. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

Next in the queue for glory are Richard Green, whose round of 66 included an ace at the short par-3 6th hole, at nine-under and Matt Jones, who shot 68 playing alongside McIlroy to sit at eight-under. Four players, including amateur Brady Watt, sit at six-under through two rounds.

If the galleries of the first two days are any indication, Rose Bay might burst this weekend as two of golf's finest gentlemen – and finest talents – embark on what shapes as a two-round duel for the Stonehaven Cup.

Yet the two leaders can't ignore their pursuers just yet.

Green, for one, insists he has found renewed confidence thanks to some new clubs.

"I've struggled a little bit of late with my game and changed a few things, changed my clubs, changed my driver, just about everything this week and it's started to show some good signs again," Green said. "I haven't hit shots like I have the past two days for a long time, probably about three years. It's building; the confidence is building…”

The tournament lost one of its overseas drawcards after four holes of Friday's round when Kevin Streelman was forced to withdraw with an eye complaint.

"I woke up this morning and something wasn't right in my eye," he said. "The doctor said it was pretty badly infected. I've been trying to do some drops but I started getting dizzy and it's the first time I've ever [withdrawn] at a tournament. I'm really sad to do it but I'm going to head to hospital and make sure everything's okay."

AUSTRALIAN OPEN LEADERBOARD

1. Adam Scott (Qld)   62-70–132

2. Rory McIlroy (N.Ire)   69-65–134

3. 
Richard Green (Vic)   69-66–135

4. 
Matt Jones (NSW)   68-68–136

T5. 
Leigh McKechnie (NSW)   73-65–138

T5. 
Alistair Presnell (Vic)   67-71–138

T5. 
Josh Younger (Vic)   69-69–138

T5. 
Brady Watt (WA,a)   68-70–138

T9. 
Aron Price (NSW)   70-69–139

T9. 
Max McCardle (SA)   68-71–139

For full scores and third round tee times visit www.australianopengolf.com.au