SCOTLAND’S Russell Knox surged into the lead in the early stages of the second round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational before bad weather saw play suspended in Akron.
Knox, who has not recorded a top-10 finish this season and has missed the halfway cut in 10 of his 18 starts, birdied the first three holes at Firestone Country Club to move to seven under par.
That took the 32-year-old two shots ahead of overnight leader Thomas Pieters, who was facing a par putt on the opening hole when lightning forced the players off the course.
Open champion Jordan Spieth and playing partner Rory McIlroy had parred the opening hole to remain three under par, McIlroy playing his first event since splitting from long-time caddie JP Fitzgerald.
The world No 4 has his best man Harry Diamond on the bag in Akron and for next week’s US PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, a venue where he has won twice and holds the course record of 61.
It remains to be seen if the relationship becomes permanent as Diamond owns several bars in Belfast, but McIlroy joked on Wednesday that ‘’if we have a good fortnight, you never know’’.
The delay lasted just 45 minutes but did not do Knox any favours, the 32-year-old dropping shots on the fifth and seventh to fall back into a tie for the lead with Pieters and Jimmy Walker.
Pieters had missed his par putt on the first when play resumed, but the Belgian responded with a birdie on the par-five second, while Walker birdied three of his first five holes.
McIlroy and Spieth had also birdied the second and Spieth bounced back from a bogey on the fourth with a birdie on the fifth to return to four under.
Australia’s Jason Day, had birdied four of the first five holes to reach three under, but appeared to be in pain from a back problem.
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