Cool hand Russell Knox inched closer to a first PGA Tour win birding his closing three holes on day two of the Barclays Championship in Paramus, New Jersey.

The Inverness-born Knox, who is contesting the rich FedEx Cup Play-Off Series for a first time, shot two under par 69 to move to a clubhouse share of sixth place on six under par in the $US 8m event on the Ridgewood Country Club course.

It left Knox trailing just two shots behind Australia’s and defending champion Adam Scott (65) and American Cameron Tringale (68) who share the lead at eight under par.

However Knox was left reeling early on in his round when he doubled the third hole from a greenside bunker before brilliantly redeeming himself in holing his 7-iron second shot from the fairway for an eagle ‘two’ at the par four, fifth hole.

Russell Knox switches it on to birdie closing three holes on day two of the Barclays Championship.

And while he bogeyed the ninth, Knox cut a swath through the field with three closing birdies including landing a 7-iron to just two feet at the last.

“I am delighted but then my score doesn’t reflect how well I played out there today as it was up there with the best I’ve hit it all year,” he said.

“I just gave myself chances after chances and with my putter ice-cold there at the start, so to end with three birdies was very pleasing.

“This has been a break out year for me so it would be nice to cap it off with a win in one of these Play-Off events.

“Even though I am two shots off the lead right now I don’t really care as I just want to hit it as good as I hit it today and make some more putts.

“But in saying that I’m thrilled now to be heading to the weekend so close to the lead, and I just love playing in these big-field events and I really feel like I can turn it on a little bit.”

Knox will head into the third round teeing off at 1.15pm local time and in the company of American sensation Rickie Fowler.