Knox Birdies Final Two Holes to Retain Florida Lead

Longshot Kenny Knox put together a birdie-birdie finish in a chilly drizzle Friday and retained the lead in the second round of the $500,000 Honda golf tournament.

“I wanted the lead by myself,” Knox said. “I wanted to lead for two days in a row. That’s something I’ve never done before.”

Knox, who hasn’t finished a tournament higher than eighth in three previous seasons on the PGA Tour, rebounded from a late double-bogey and coaxed a one-under-par 71 from the difficult playing conditions.

“I overcame a lot of adversity out there--wind, rain, everything,” Knox said.

Knox’s total for two rounds on the TPC course at Eagle Trace was 137, which gave him a one-stroke lead over Andy Bean.

Bean, a playoff loser in this event two years ago, shot his second 69. He dropped a 25-foot birdie putt on his final hole, a putt that was made easier when Bill Kratzert putted on the same line just ahead of him.

“I could see the line in the water on the green,” Bean said.

Tom Weiskopf, 43, making a return to competition after a year as a television commentator, had a 68 that put him at 139.

Tim Norris and Buddy Gardner were at 140 after each had a 68.

Jack Nicklaus failed to qualify for the final two rounds after he called a one-shot penalty on himself. His ball moved a fraction of an inch when he addressed a putt on the fourth hole.

It was the stroke Nicklaus couldn’t afford in a round of 76 that put him at 149, one shot too many to make the cut. It marked the second time in four starts this year that he had missed the cut.