Jason Day has been left flying the flag for Australian men's golf after an otherwise wretched day on the Royal Troon links ended with the rest of the green-and-gold challenge at the British Open being blown away.
Both Min Woo Lee and Adam Scott, world top-40 players, suffered in the gusty afternoon conditions on Friday as their promising overnight positions evaporated, while Cameron Smith was left reflecting on his two most woeful Open days just a couple of years since he lifted the Claret Jug.
Yet as only Scott, among the six-strong Aussie contingent, was able to join Day in making the cut for the weekend, the substantial consolation was that last year's runner-up played himself into contention for another crack at the title with his excellent early-morning, three-under par round of 68.
