Rocket Basic: Jake Knapp makes PGA Tour historical past however trails leaders Chris Kirk, Philip Knowles and Andrew Putnam | Golf Information

Jake Knapp grew to become the primary particular person in PGA Tour historical past to interrupt 60 and shoot a 61 or decrease in the identical season.

He shot an 11-under 61 on Friday, within the course of breaking a Rocket Basic file that stood for lower than a day.

However that also wasn’t sufficient to place him within the high six, coming into the weekend at Detroit Golf Membership.

Chris Kirk (65), Philip Knowles (64) and Andrew Putnam (66) share the second-round lead at 14 below. Jackson Suber (65) was one other shot again.

Aldrich Potgieter, who had a 70 after sharing the 18-hole lead with Kevin Roy after each shot a record-setting 62, and Mark Hubbard have been one other stroke behind the chief.

Knapp was in a big pack of gamers, together with Collin Morikawa (64), Hideki Matsuyama (66) and Roy (71), three photographs off the lead going into the third spherical.

The 31-year-old Knapp, who gained the Mexico Open final 12 months as a rookie, began the second spherical one hundred and thirtieth within the 156-player discipline after opening with a 72. He surged into competition with 9 birdies and an eagle in a bogey-free spherical.

“I used to be simply most likely upset all evening and this morning, so I believe that perhaps helped just a little bit,” he stated.

Knapp, ranked No. 99 on the planet, is the one participant on the tour to shoot 61 or higher in two rounds this season.

He shot a 59 – one off the tour scoring file of 58 set by Jim Furyk in 2016 – on the Cognizant Basic 4 months in the past, when he broke the event scoring file earlier than cooling off and tying for sixth.

Knapp broke the 18-hole file at Detroit Golf Membership that was set Thursday within the first spherical when Potgieter and Roy each shot a 62.

“I really feel like after I begin making birdies, I wish to make extra,” Knapp stated. “I used to be even type of serious about 59 after I caught it shut on my third to final gap.”

The 28-year-old Knowles, taking pictures for his first PGA Tour win, made the lower for simply the third time in 11 occasions after failing to make it to the weekend at 5 straight tournaments.

“It is not been my greatest 12 months up to now by any stretch of the creativeness, however golf is humorous,” he stated. “If you’re taking part in dangerous, you by no means really feel like you are going to play good once more. And when you’ve days like in the present day, you simply do not perceive how you possibly can ever shoot a nasty spherical of golf.”

The 40-year-old Kirk, whose sixth win was the season-opening event final 12 months at Kapalua, opened the second spherical with three straight birdies and completed with 9 birdies and two bogeys.

Many of the leaders have been in morning teams, when situations have been extra beneficial, and Putnam was an exception.

Putnam performed within the afternoon when the wind was stiff and swirling on a sizzling and steamy day. He began robust with three birdies and a bogey on the entrance 9 earlier than getting just one birdie on the again, placing him ready to presumably win his second PGA Tour occasion and first since 2018.

“The wind got here up, acquired a pair difficult holes on the market,” he stated, “so glad I may grind it out.”

Watch the second spherical of the Rocket Basic dwell on Sky Sports activities Golf on Saturday June 28 from 5pm and on Sky Sports activities Primary Occasion from 6pm.