The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Knox shrugs off run of bogeys to stay in contention
Weather delay halts charge but Scot goes into the weekend in the hunt
Scotland’s Russell Knox remained right in contention at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational despite a run of three bogeys in nine holes after weather suspended play in Akron, Ohio, yesterday.
Knox, who has not recorded a top-10 finish this season and has missed the halfway cut in 10 of his 18 starts, opened brightly by birdieing the first three holes at Firestone Country Club to move to seven under par.
That took the 32-year-old two shots clear of overnight leader Thomas Pieters.
The start of play had been delayed due to a passing storm over Firestone Country Club and just over two hours’ play was possible before the threat of lightning caused another 45-minute delay.
When the 32-year-old Scot return, he bogeyed the fifth and seventh but a birdie on the ninth took Knox, who won the WGC-HSBC Champions in November 2015, out in 33.
Further dropped shots on the 11th, 12th and 13th saw him tumble down the leaderboard but he steadied to par in for a 71 to finish the day at three under.
Former world No 1 Jason Day and playing partner Rory McIlroy were also at that mark after 15 holes with Jimmy Walker leading the way at seven under on the final tee.
The third member of the McIlroy/Day group, Open champion Jordan Spieth, bogeyed the 15th to drop back to one under.
McIlroy again has his best man Harry Diamond on the bag in Akron and for next week’s US PGA Championship at Quail Hollow after his split from longtime caddie JP Fitzgerald.
It remains to be seen if the relationship becomes permanent as Diamond owns several bars in Belfast, but the world No 4 joked that “if we have a good fortnight, you never know”.
Belgian Pieters, who opened with a 65, was still going along nicely and reached the 15th tee just one behind Walker.
Zach Johnson was leader in the clubhouse at four under after a 67.