Dubai, UAE …
Russell Knox boosted a goal of grabbing a share of a £7.8m ($US10m) end-of-season bonus to also be well in contention heading to the weekend rounds in n Dubai.
The lone Scot in the elite 60-only field split the fairways with monotonous regularity to produce a bogey-free second round 68 for a three-under par tally.
It left the 33-year old trailing eight shots behind England’s Matt Wallace who posted a round of 65 to lead by a shot on 11-under and this is after being slapped with a £3,000 ‘slow play’ fine a day earlier.
Russell Knox was not the only one pleased in ending his round with a 68 for a three under par tally (Photo @tourmiss)
Knox, and contesting the event for a first time in his career, capped his round with three birdies in succession mid-round holing birdie putts of three-feet at the ninth and the five-feet at the 10th hole and then draining a 12-foot on 11.
He said: “I just drove the ball so much better today and I had a great feel over the ball which I haven’t had in a while.
“I just felt each time I had the driver in the hand, I was going to hit the fairway and I pretty much achieved that.
Russell Knox looking pleased with himself after a round of a four-under par 68. (Photo – @tourmiss)
“So, that was nice while I made a couple of nice pars on the front nine after some poor lag putts and I was also very patient before hitting a great shot into the ninth for birdie and from there I managed to create a little momentum.
“It was a good day and even better not to miss a green, so it was a good ball-striking day.”
Knox arrived into Dubai lying 14th on the Race to Dubai and is now projected to end his European Tour season
He said: “It does make the weekend interesting as if I had of gone out today and shot a couple over I would have been in a horrible spot for the next two days.
“Now, if I can shoot a couple more rounds like today you never know.
“I feel like I’ve now got a good sniff but then I am going to need one round where I go ‘nuts’ and shoot maybe a 66, 65 or a 64 I am going to contend.
“So, two more solid rounds over the weekend and I could get my hands on a good slice of that $10m bonus pool.”
