Stenson has sights on second title

day just four shots off the lead after carding an opening 69. However, the 31-year-old and playing partners Joe Summerhays and Ikeda had not been informed that the pin position on the 10th hole – their first – had been changed from one side of the green to the other.

Knost and Ikeda both bogeyed the hole and, although the latter recovered to shoot 67 and finish three under, Knost’s 73 left him two over par and facing an anxious wait to see if he would make the cut. “The pin sheet was 20 yards off,” said Knost after his round. “People are going to say we should be able to tell what side of the green it’s on, but I was 210 yards out and it was raining rather hard.

“We just expect the pin to be right. It said it was 21 (yards on) and four from the left and I played to the right side of the green because I had a five wood in so I had plenty of green to work with if I missed.

“I missed it right and we get up there and it is 19 on and three from the right. It’s a big deal and it shouldn’t happen in tournaments like this – it shouldn’t happen in any tournament. I called an official over and said, ‘What’s going on here?’ He said, ‘We messed up’ and they went and told the group behind us and printed out a new pin sheet.”

Knost’s group was met by PGA of America chief championships officer Kerry Haigh as they signed their cards. Knost added: “He apologised. They messed up and they’re sorry. It sucks. I made a bogey there and that could be the difference between me playing tomorrow or not.”