Torrey Pines, California ….
Top-ranked Scot Russell Knox dug deep on a ‘tougher’ South Course to not lose sight of the leaders on day two of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.
Knox bravely didn’t drop a shot in posting a two-under par 70 to be inside the leading 20 in the $US 7.4m event at seven under par.
The current World No. 66 trails eight shots behind World No. 1 Justin Rose, who opened-up a three-shot leading cushion with scores of 63 and a second round 66.
Rory McIlroy, who had managed a 71 on Thursday on the South Course, took full advantage of the superb scoring conditions to eagle both his opening and seventh holes on route to a best-of-the-day 65 that lifted the Ulsterman from a day one share of 74th place and inside the top-10 at eight-under par.
The last occasion McIlroy snatched two eagles in the same round was eagling both the 16th and 18th in a day three 68 on route to victory in the 2014 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.
A day earlier, Knox snatched an eagle and six birdies in a score of 67 on the ‘easier’ North Course and an effort that delighted his watching parents and podcast presenter sister, Diane.
The return to the Torrey Pines area is also special for Knox’s US-born father, Mike who was born in closeby San Diego.
Knox’s second round was just two birdies, at his 10th and 15th holes along with 16 great pars.
He said: “I love it when I am bogey-free and I am really happy but also very tired, as it was a battle out today.
“I didn’t play nearly as good as yesterday as I hit some squirly ones but managed to get away with.
“So, for the most part I managed to keep the ball in play though I didn’t drive it as good as yesterday as I was in the rough a lot, but kind of managed it from there.”
Knox arrived on the Californian West Coast having shown great signs of improvement in posting a 64 on route to a top-20 in last week’s Desert Classic in La Quinta.
Now he’s excited to again be well into the mix with two rounds to play at the Farmers.
He said: “It’s a good reflection on my game that when I was out of position today, my management of the situation was very good.
“I have a good attitude at present while my game is good, and it showed today that while I not quite clicking a full 100% but then to go out in those circumstances and not drop a shot in shooting two-under it is not all that bad.”
Fellow Scot Martin Laird also booked his place for the weekend posting a 66 to be sharing 36th place at five-under.
