Shaun Norris compared the challenge posed by Trump International Golf Links to "a big game of chess" as he moved into a position to vie for victory over the weekend at the Nexo Championship.
The South African is making his first visit to the Old Course at the Aberdeen venue, having missed last year's edition as it returned to the DP World Tour schedule after a five-year absence.
It garnered some rave reviews from the players then and Norris is thoroughly enjoying the test as he backed up an opening 72 with a 69 to get to three under and hold a share of the early clubhouse on day two in Scotland.
"That's a reason I'm playing – I saw it on TV last year, I thought, ‘yes, I would really like that’", he said.
"So I decided on playing this week. It’s really an unbelievable golf course. You’ve got to plan your way around it, hit the ball well, so I’m very happy with being here and enjoying the whole thing.
"I think it's the way that you've got to plan your way around the golf course (in Scotland). You got to manufacture shots. For me, it's just a big game for chess."
Twice a runner-up so far this season, Norris is 13th on the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World and chasing a third DP World Tour title of his career and first outside his homeland.
Starting at the tenth, the 34-year-old was one over for his front nine as he mixed a birdie at the 12th for the second day in a row with bogeys at the 13th and 15th.
He found his stride though over his back nine, capitalising on several holes playing downwind, with birdies at the first, second, fourth and seventh.
"I'm very pleased with it," he said, describing his performance so far this week as among his best of the season. "I hit the ball nicely, kept it in play, and that's basically all you need to do around here.
"The ball's not travelling, as it's quite cold out there. Wind's all over the place, so you basically just need to plan your way around the golf course.
"Even yesterday's level par was right up there (as one of his better rounds of the season). I’m very pleased with the way I'm hitting the golf ball, planning the round out, and finishing up the round."
