Russell Knox’s quest to break into the Ryder Cup team is back on track with a second straight 67 to be well in contention late on day two of the Travelers Championship in Connecticut.
Knox confessed following Sunday’s conclusion to the PGA Championship he needs one ‘good performance’ prior to the end of Hazeltine qualifying if he’s to make the European Team automatically.
And the US-based Scot again let his clubs do all the talking racing to seven under par on the back of four birdies in his opening seven holes, including three in succession from his fifth in holing a six-footer.
Knox holed a 13-footer at six and then at the par four, seventh Knox hit a booming 320-yard drive clearing three fairway bunkers and then sticking his second from 123-yards to 18-feet and seeing a third birdie drop.
Russell Knox in contention with two rounds to play in the Travelers Championship.
But Knox bogeyed 10 and then stalled with eight frustrating closing pars, including leaving his birdie attempt at the last on the TPC Riverlands course right in the jaws but to be knocking loudly on the door for a second PGA Tour success in the wraparound 2016/17.
“Both rounds were about the same but then I had a couple of stretches where I played really well and a couple where I just hacked it around a little bit, so all in all I am very pleased.”, he said.
And when quizzed on his heavy schedule both sides of ‘The Pond’ this year Knox responded: “ I am a beast man. I am not tired. I am ready to go. This is my life. I love every minute of it.
“But seriously I have taken some weeks off as you have to do but I have waited my whole life for this, so I am ready to roll.
“And if I were to make the team Darren (Clarke) would know that I love match-play as I grew-up playing match-play and I love the competition but we all do, so I would love to make the team.
“But if I don’t then there is 12 people who deserve to make the team ahead of me.”
Martin Laird looks also assured of playing all four rounds and two shots inside the cut-off line with three to play.
The foursome of Aussie Marc Leishman (68), South African Tyrone Van Aswege (66) and American duo of Russell Henley (65) Daniel Berger (67) share the lead at seven under par.
