Colt Knost ties Sawgrass course record with 63, bogeys the last

Another day, another course record-tying 63 at The Players.

On Friday, it was Colt Knost who put up a 9-under score around the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, hitting all 18 greens in regulation en route to becoming the sixth player in championship history to record 63.

However, Knost’s round could have easily been 62 — or even better.

Not to Friday afternoon quarterback, but Knost three-putted the 18th hole to drop from 10 under on his round, even after making birdie on the 17th to create the possibility of a new course record. That, Knost said, is because he psyched himself out, telling himself after hitting the green that all he needed for the course record was a two-putt from 40 feet.

“But you know, as we all say, the toughest thing to do is when you try to two-putt, and that’s kind of what I was thinking, which I regret that right now,” Knost said. “I wish I would have tried to make — my caddie told me I hadn’t made a long one all day, so I might as well knock this one in. I wish I would have ran that through my head again. It seems like every time you try to two-putt, you leave yourself something a little more than you want.”

Even then, a new course record very well may not have come down to a tricky two-putt at the last had he birdied more than one of Sawgrass’ four par 5s. Nevertheless, Knost skyrocketed up the leaderboard on Friday, moving on from an even-par 72 on Day 1 that had him nine back of leader Jason Day, who tied the course record with a flawless 63.

Now Knost is in position to contend for his first PGA Tour title on the weekend. The 2007 U.S. Amateur winner has played 15 of 16 weekends this season, but he hasn’t sniffed the winner’s circle. He’s hoping that his 72 is the worst round he’ll shoot this week. If so, he could well win.

“To win out here and to compete, you have to play four good ones, and it’s just something I haven’t done yet this year, but it’s getting close,” he said. “I’ve got to stay patient with everything.”

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

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