Comeback kids Goosen and Scott lead pack at Loch Lomond

Retief Goosen and Adam Scott would like nothing more than to win The Open at Turnberry next Sunday – but in the meantime a Scottish Open will do nicely tomorrow.

The two former world No 3s resume at Loch Lomond this afternoon in first and second place, Goosen 11 under par after a superb second round 63 and Scott nine under.

Both are on the comeback trail – and South African Goosen is unquestionably the one further down that trail.

The double US Open champion did not have a top 10 finish in any of the four majors last season for the first time since 2000, but since then has won in Asia, Africa and America.

“We all go through patches in this game,” he said. “Nobody knows why, otherwise all of us would be world No 1.

“That’s how it is. I’ve been working harder on my game since last year – and on my fitness.”

He turned 40 in February, but to see 28-year-old Scott struggling as he did earlier this season was a much bigger shock. He missed six halfway cuts in seven tournaments prior to finding some form again at the US Open last month.

The Adelaide golfer has yet to get even close to winning a major, but he obviously still has lots of time – and after the break-up of a long relationship last year he is now with tennis star Ana Ivanovic and, not surprisingly, looking much happier.

“All areas of my life are in a good place right now,” he said.

Germany’s Martin Kaymer is only three behind and looking, of course, for back-to-back victories after beating Lee Westwood in a play-off for the French Open last weekend.

As for Westwood, what a difference there was both in his well-being and golf yesterday.

A chest infection caused a sleepless night on Wednesday and after an opening 73 the former European No 1 said he was “stupid” to have played.

Put on anti-biotics by a doctor he slept for three hours after his round and then 12 hours overnight, came out and shot 66 to move to three under.

That might be too far back to catch such high-quality performers such as Goosen, Scott and Kaymer, who shares third with Australian Marcus Fraser, but it certainly makes Westwood optimistic again about his chances next week.

England’s Kenneth Ferrie is still trying to earn a place at Turnberry.

Last Sunday the Northumberland golfer missed out by a stroke by finishing sixth in Paris.

He then travelled to Kilmarnock Barassie for the Open final qualifying competition and took three shots too many to get through that.

Now he goes into the third round at Loch Lomond in a tie for fifth and cannot afford to fall any lower if he wants to take the one exempt spot up for grabs.