• Zurich Classic, Round Two

Dufner takes slender lead at Zurich Classic

Jason Dufner put together an impressive round © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Dufner bags maiden title as Donald returns to No. 1
  
• News: Donald on track for return to No. 1
  
• Profile: Jason Dufner | Bubba Watson

Leaderboard

Jason Dufner is the clubhouse leader at the Zurich Classic after shooting a bogey-free seven-under 65 on day two in New Orleans.

The American got off to a super start, birdying the first and picking up further shots ahead of the turn at the fifth, sixth and seventh. With his driving much improved from his first round, Dufner had easier access to the greens and, having found 78 per cent of them in regulation, he needed only 26 swings of the short stick en route to an aggregate score of 12-under. The highlight of his round came at the last when he eagled the par-five 18th.

A stroke behind is Scotland's Russell Knox, who surged up the leaderboard with a joint best-of-the-day 64. Beginning at the 10th, Knox immediately found his range, rolling in two consecutive birdies to gain early momentum. A bogey - his first and only of the round - at the 12th threatened to dispirit him but he showed brilliant resolve to get his round moving in the right direction again with two immediate birdies.

He showed that Dufner's eagle at teh 18th was no fluke by following suit, before three more birdies on the front nine saw him move to 11-under for the week.

Ken Duke is also one adrift of the leader following a tidy 68. The American may only have found 61 per cent of the greens in regulation but 25 putts for the round saw him head to the weekend full of optimism.

Ernie Els and Steve Stricker are among a group two back on 10-under. Els made five birdies and one bogey for a second successive 68, while Stricker was left to rue dropping two shots coming in as he signed for the same score.

Rickie Fowler is on eight-under after a eye-catching 65, while world No. 2 Luke Donald showed better form on the way to a 65 of his own. An opening 73 had damaged Donald's quest to reclaim the top spot in the rankings from Rory McIlroy, but the Englishman made five birdies and an eagle in a faultless round of seven-under to move to six-under for the week.

Masters champion Bubba Watson should make the cut but it was another disappointing day for the man who recently conquered Augusta. There were glimpses of his best golf - an eagle at the par-five seventh a prime example - but three bogeys in a round of 71 have given him a mountain to climb from two-under.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.