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
-
Matt CooperPunter’s pointers: The Olympic Men’s Golf Competition
Who will emulate Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson and Matt Kuchar in standing on the podium to collect Olympic medals this week?
-
NewsNacho Elvira dedicates dramatic Cazoo Open victory to Celia Barquin Arozamena
The 2018 European Ladies’ Amateur champion was murdered later in the year on a course in Iowa.
-
NewsMinjee Lee overturns a seven-shot deficit to take Evian Championship victory
A win over South Korea’s Jeongeun Lee6 in a play-off saw the Australian secure her first major title.
-
NewsMinjee Lee overturns a seven-shot deficit to take Evian Championship victory
A win over South Korea’s Jeongeun Lee6 in a play-off saw the Australian secure her first major title.
-
NewsMorikawa Clinches Second Career Major
It is fair to say that the recent 2021 edition was absolutely no different and with a number of early contenders once again falling.
-
NewsMatt Wallace out to show Padraig Harrington his desire to make Ryder Cup team
Wallace was overlooked for a wild card in 2018 despite winning for the third time in 15 starts.
-
NewsCollin Morikawa to reassess his goals after winning The Open at first attempt
The 24-year-old American has already won two majors.
-
NewsThe Open day four: Halfway to a career grand slam two years after turning pro
Collin Morikawa has added the Open to the US PGA, both of them won on tournament debut.
-
NewsCollin Morikawa eager to savour taste of success after debut Open triumph
The American became only the second person after Tiger Woods to win the Open and US PGA before the age of 25.