The heat wave is closing in and so is Adam Scott. Far from day-dreaming about an impending two-month break with family on the Gold Coast, Scott moved into an ominous position heading into the weekend at the Australian PGA Championship.

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The world No.7 produced another round of 68 in tricky afternoon conditions to move to eight-under, just four shots adrift of Andrew Dodt, who held his nerve to finish with a 67 and be at 12 under at the turn.

Ashley Hall was in the clubhouse at 10 under, while Kiwi Ryan Fox joined Scott at minus eight to lead a strong chasing pack that also features American Harold Varner III (seven under) and Scott's playing partner Greg Chalmers (five under).

It was rock-solid golf from Scott, who now prepares for what could be a battle of attrition on Saturday and Sunday as temperatures continue to soar across Queensland's south-east.

"I played really well today, the best I've played in a couple of weeks. It was a good day to do it because it wasn't that easy. Hitting most of the greens made it fairly stress-free," Scott said.

The Royal Pines greens, with grains running in all directions, made it difficult to bust the course apart but Scott's superb iron-play ensured he didn't spend the afternoon scrambling with short irons and long putts.

"I played with the best putter in the world, maybe, in Greg Chalmers, and he didn't make them either. It was bouncing around. You've got to take your opportunities when they come," he said. "My striking was crisp, it was strong and it carried on to the rest of my game as well."

Only restless newborns and shift workers should have been stirring when the early groups hauled themselves out of bed on day two. For some, the unreasonable hour would produce bountiful returns. Englishman Ian Poulter said the 3.30am rise and 5.30am tee-off was the earliest in his 17 years as a professional. Still, a 68 to have him at four under was worth the effort.

"I love my bed. Someone who's half-man/half-mattress does not get out of bed at 3.30am to play golf, let alone to go to an airport to get to a tournament. That was a very early morning; I think that the earliest wake-up call I've ever had in 17 years on tour," Poulter said.

"That was a strange little morning call, I think 3.30 alarm call to come out and play golf is a touch on the early side. But it was light, so we could get out there ... it's just an unusual feeling. I didn't manage to get any jet lag at all flying from America but a tee time's managed to give me jetlag."

The ungodly hour was on account of the menacing storms that halted play on day one, with a number of groups wrapping up their final first-round holes before diving straight into the second.

Among them was Australian Open runner-up Hall, who added a 69 to his opening round of 65 to capture the early lead through bleary eyes. Like Poulter, he was ready for an afternoon nap to preserve his sanity for the final rounds.

November and now December has seen a rapid return to form for the Victorian, who has struggled in his efforts to crack the golden river that is the US PGA Tour and had to re-qualify for the Australian events.

"Last year I thought that was essentially the bottom and I had to do Q-School again here, which I hadn't had to do because I sort of pushed so hard in the US last year. Winning the Vic PGA early, I thought, 'Here we go, this is coming back again' and then I kind of struggled a lot again through the middle of the year," Hall said.

And on the day Tiger Woods made his comeback, his 2009 vanquisher YE Yang campaigned in near anonymity as he just made the cut with a 71 that left him at one over the card.

The Korean - once known as the 'Tiger Killer' - said that win had changed his life and welcomed Woods back after the 14-time major returned to competition in a tournament in the Bahamas.