New Orleans Classic golf: Scot Russell Knox equals course record

SCOTLAND’S Russell Knox, a rookie on the US circuit this year who has made only two cuts in eight starts, fired a superb 64 to tie the course record and share second place with Americans Ken Duke (68) and John Rollins (66) in the second round of the New Orleans Classic in Avondale, Louisiana.

Knox, from Inverness, is 11 under, one stroke behind Jason Dufner, an American journeyman who coolly rolled in a curling 30-foot eagle putt on his final hole to grab the lead.

The Scot’s round at the TPC Louisiana also included an eagle at the last as well as seven birdies. The only blemish was a bogey 5 on the 12th.

It was a remarkable round from Knox who sealed his US Tour card by winning promotion from the Nationwide Tour circuit.

Australian left-hander Greg Chalmers also shot a 64 and was a further stroke back at 10 under, level with three-times major winner Ernie Els (68) and American world No.7 Steve Stricker (68).

Masters champion Bubba Watson, who clinched last year’s New Orleans Classic in a play-off but has struggled with fatigue this week, birdied his penultimate hole on the way to a second successive 71 and was right on the cut.