Kisner climbs WGC leaderboard
American Kevin Kisner fired a six-under-par 66 to climb to the summit of the WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai on Friday.
Kisner stayed bogey-free throughout the second round, carding four birdies on the front nine and two over the final three holes to take his total to 14-under after firing a eight-under 64 in Thursday’s first round.
The American had a back injury ahead of the event and was unable to put in a single practice hole at the Sheshan International Golf Course, but the lack of preparation doesn’t seem to have hampered him.
"It's not like an injury where it's going to get worse," he told the European Tour website.
"It's just dealing with the pain, and it's gotten better every day, so hopefully this weekend it will be perfect."
Kisner currently leads by two shots, with Scotland’s Russell Knox in second after also staying bogey-free and shooting seven birdies to add a seven-under 65 to his first round 67.
First round leader Branden Grace has slipped to third on the leaderboard, after failing to reach the bar he set with a nine-under 63 on Thursday. Grace shot a one-under 71 and is currently on 10-under.
“It's beyond my expectations. I had no expectations coming in so it's been good. I'm making a lot of putts and that's fun keeping the round going when I miss a green,” Kisner said of his second round performance.
"I made a couple of long putts for par today to keep the no bogey streak going. I'm sure I'll run into some problems sooner or later. I just hope I can keep holing those putts for par and keep the pedal down.”
Latest
-
NewsAmerican Nelly Korda taking ‘relaxed’ approach into first major of the season
Korda finished joint runner-up at Mission Hills Country Club last year.
-
NewsWATCH: Robert MacIntyre in seventh heaven after securing Masters invite
The young Scot admits he thought it would probably never happen.
-
NewsBilly Horschel claims all-American final against Scottie Scheffler in Austin
Scheffler had plenty of crowd support as a native Texan and drew first blood at the Austin Country Club.
-
NewsColin Montgomerie criticises slow play as Horschel and Scheffler reach final
It took Scottie Scheffler and Matt Kuchar four hours and eight minutes to complete their match.
-
NewsTommy Fleetwood’s challenge in Texas ends despite ace
Billy Horschel was one of three Americans to reach the last four in Austin.
-
NewsTommy Fleetwood books quarter-final place in Austin after hole-in-one
The Englishman’s ace at the fourth followed Sergio Garcia’s hole-in-one there on Friday.
-
NewsSergio Garcia hits hole-in-one to reach WGC Match Play last 16
The Spaniard made an ace on the fourth play-off hole to get the better of Lee Westwood.
-
NewsTommy Fleetwood holds off Bryson DeChambeau to progress in Austin
The Englishman had been four up but the match went down the last.
-
NewsRory McIlroy on current form: ‘The game is testing me more than it has done in recent years’
The former World No 1 admits only hard work will lift him out of his current run of bad form.
-
NewsDustin Johnson finishes strongly to avoid defeat to Robert MacIntyre in Austin
Johnson made an eagle on the par-five 16th and birdied the 17th.