Stuart Appleby struggled to recall a tougher test of golf than the second round he's just endured at the Australian Open.

Appleby carded a one-under par 70 in punishing conditions, to be tied for third five shots behind leader Rod Pampling at the midway point of the centenary open.

Appleby, the 2001 champion, was in one of the latest groups off the tee, meaning he played in the windiest conditions and on the hardest greens.

"It's one of the toughest rounds I've played in the past year, certainly in the hardest half-dozen," Appleby told AAP.

"Certainly the majors can play pretty tough and the US Open (at Shinnecock Hills) was the hardest by far but outside that I can't remember such a demanding day physically and mentally."

The Australian Golf Course is pretty hard on a good day, playing at a mammoth 6,610 metres, with testing rough and tricky greens.

Add to that breezy conditions - from the south one day and the north the next - and it's no wonder only nine players were under par after two rounds.

Appleby, the top-ranked player in the field at No.18 in the world, was unconcerned by the five-shot gap to the leader.

He pointed out that Pampling had enjoyed the best of the conditions, playing in the least windy portion of the day on both Thursday and Friday.

"The course is a lot more difficult today than yesterday - unfortunately I was on the side of the draw that wasn't giving up as much as it did to the guys this morning.

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