Saturday 18 October 2014 12:33, UK
Scotland’s Russell Knox and America’s Andrew Putnam share the halfway lead at the Shriners Hospitals Open in Las Vegas.
PGA Tour rookie Putnam, making just the fourth Tour start of his career, fired a six-under-par 65 which featured seven birdies to join Knox at the top of the leaderboard on 10 under.
Knox, who like Putnam is chasing his maiden Tour victory, followed his opening 65 with a 67 to sit one clear of two more Americans, Andrew Svoboda (67) and Tony Finau (65).
Knox, 29, started his round with a birdie at the first, but then had to regroup after back-to-back bogeys and admitted patience had been key for him.
"I was all over the map," stated the Scot. "I didn't feel real good with my swing, and I knew if I just made some pars, eventually something would click.
"And I made a couple of putts, which really settled me down.”
A group of eight players are bunched two back of the leaders on eight under, including major champion Webb Simpson and overnight leader Martin Laird.
Simpson, the 2012 US Open champion, pushed himself into contention with a flawless 65, but Laird rather failed to build on his superb start as he posted a one-under 70 that featured a bogey and a double at the par-four seventh.
Americans Bo Van Pelt, Wes Roach, Spencer Levin, Scott Piercy, Ben Martin and George McNeill are the other members of the group.
Former Open champion Stewart Cink, who had shared the overnight lead with Laird, could only manage a disappointing four-over 75 on Friday to drop back down into a tie for 45th on three under.
