Knox stays hot, holds lead at Scottish Open

An 11-hour sleep and a hearty Scottish breakfast sparked the latest impressive round in Russell Knox's glorious summer of golf, putting him in contention to seal back-to-back wins on the European Tour at the Scottish Open in Gullane, Scotland, on Saturday.

Knox mastered the windiest conditions of the week over the Gullane links to shoot a 4-under 66 in the third round, leaving him two strokes off surprise leader Jens Dantorb (68) and one behind a six-way tie for second place in the event used as a tune-up for next week's British Open.

The Scotsman doesn't want this summer to end. After placing 12th at the U.S. Open last month for his best finish at a major, Knox was runner-up at the French Open and then won the Irish Open last week thanks to consecutive 40foot birdie putts on the 72nd hole and first playoff hole.

Now, he's got a great chance to win his home championship, a week before heading to the British Open also in Scotland. There's also potentially the not-so-small matter of a first appearance at the Ryder Cup in September.

“I'm loving the way I'm swinging and the putts are going in,” Knox said. “I'm just playing with a smile on my face.”

SENIOR PLAYERS

Defending champion Scott McCarron and Bart Bryant shot matching 65s to move into a share of the lead with Jeff Maggert at the Constellation Senior Players Championship in Highland Park, Illinois.

McCarron birdied two of the final four holes at Exmoor Country Club for a three-round total of 16under 200 in the fourth of five majors on the PGA Tour Champions schedule. Last year, he rallied to win the event at Caves Valley near Baltimore.

MARATHON CLASSIC

Brooke Henderson birdied the 17th hole after a so-so back nine, finishing with a 2-under 69 to take a one-stroke lead at the Marathon Classic in Sylvania, Ohio.

The late birdie moved the 20-year-old Canadian out of a tie for the lead as she seeks her second win this season. Henderson is at 11-under 202 after three rounds at Highland Meadows.

Angela Stanford and Brittany Lincicome are one stroke behind. Stanford vaulted into contention with a 6-under 65, which tied for the low round of the day.