Kevin Kisner shot a bogey-free 6-under-par 66 to claim a two-stroke lead over Russell Knox of Scotland midway through the WGC-HSBC Champions at Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, China.
Kisner, who has never won a PGA Tour title and has lost three times in playoffs this year, birdied three holes in a row through No. 8 and added two more on the last three holes to pull ahead of the field despite tweaking his back last week in the CIMB Classic in Malaysia.
“It’s not like an injury where it’s going to get worse,” said Kisner, who won twice on the Web.com Tour. “It’s just dealing with the pain, and it’s gotten better every day, so hopefully this week it will be perfect.
“(Leading is) 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. Looking forward to the weekend.”
Knox, also without a PGA Tour victory but who won the 2011 Chiquita Classic on the Web.com Tour, sank a 40-foot birdie putt while starting the day at No. 10 to kick-start a bogey-free 65, while Branden Grace of South Africa, who had the first-round lead with a 63, was four shots back in third after a 71.
Patrick Reed birdied the final hole to finish at 70 and was another stroke behind in a tie for fourth with Haotong Lee of China, who birdied three of his first five holes en route to a 69.
Dustin Johnson birdied the last three holes to post a 71 and was six shots behind in a tie for sixth with Bernd Wiesberger of Austria, who had a bogey-free 66, and Hunter Mahan, who came in with a second straight 66 thanks to an eagle on the 16th hole.
World No. 2 Jordan Spieth carded a 72 and was 10 strokes behind in a tie for 27th that included No. 3 Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and No. 5 Rickie Fowler, who both finished at 72.
No. 4 Bubba Watson, the defending champion, struggled to a 73 and was 11 shots down in a tie for 37th.
