GULLANE, Scotland - Eleven hours of sleep and a hearty Scottish breakfast sparked the latest impressive round in Russell Knox's glorious summer of golf, putting him in contention for his second straight victory on the European Tour.
Knox mastered the windiest conditions of this year's Scottish Open to shoot a 4-under-par 66 in Saturday's third round at Gullane Golf Club, leaving him two strokes behind surprise leader Jens Dantorp, who shot a 68, was at 130-under 197 overall and had a one-stroke advantage.
Dantorp is a hunted man, though, with six players tied for second - including seventh-ranked Rickie Fowler - and Knox in a three-way tie for eighth. First-round leader Luke List, the former Baylor School and Vanderbilt University standout, shot a second straight 69 and was tied for 18th, four shots behind Dantorp.
Knox doesn't want this summer to end. After placing 12th at the U.S. Open last month for his best finish at a major, the 33-year-old Scotsman was runner-up at the French Open and then won the Irish Open last week thanks to consecutive 40-foot birdie putts on the 72nd hole and first playoff hole.
Now he has a great chance to win his home championship the same week the British Open starts - also in Scotland at Carnoustie Golf Links. There's also the not-so-small matter of a potential first appearance at the Ryder Cup in September.
"I'm loving the way I'm swinging, and the putts are going in," Knox said. "I'm just playing with a smile on my face."
Knox, No. 49 in the World Golf Ranking, said his energy levels were low Friday after his strong performances in France and Ireland, but he "slept like a king" and enjoyed a "huge breakfast," including his favorite Scottish bread.
It clearly did the trick. On a day when Robert Rock - who had a two-shot lead after 36 holes - plunged down the field after a 76, Knox birdied five of his last 11 holes.
Dantorp, a 29-year-old Swede with just one top-10 finish in 61 starts on the European Tour, birdied his final three holes. Twenty-six players were within four shots of his lead.
Kim takes charge at John Deere Classic
SILVIS, Ill. - Michael Kim grabbed a five-shot lead at the John Deere Classic, firing a 7-under 64 in a third round delayed twice for a total of roughly four hours because of bad weather and concerns regarding lightning.
Kim, who has just one top-10 finish in 84 career PGA Tour starts, closed the day with four straight birdies and was at 22-under 191 for 54 holes.
Bronson Burgoon (66) was second at 17 under, with Matt Jones (66) another stroke back and Harold Varner III (66) one shot behind him. Tied for fifth at 14 under were Andres Romero (64) and Sam Ryder (67).
PGA Tour rookie Keith Mitchell (66), a former Baylor School and University of Georgia standout, was tied for 12th at 12 under after a bogey-free day. His group included Tyler Duncan, whose 63 led the third-round scores.
Weather delays Friday led to the second round not being completed until Saturday, and Baylor School graduates Harris English and Stephan Jaeger missed the 3-under cut by two strokes. Jaeger had rounds of 69 and 72, while English opened with a 72 before shooting a 69.
Trio in the lead at senior major
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. - Bart Bryant and Scott McCarron shot matching 7-under 65s to move into a share of the lead with Jeff Maggert at the Constellation Senior Players Championship.
McCarron birdied two of the final four holes at Exmoor Country Club for a three-round total of 16-under 200 in the fourth of five majors on the PGA Tour Champions schedule. Last year, he rallied to win the event at Caves Valley Golf Club near Baltimore.
Maggert, who led most of the day, shot a 66.
Vijay Singh (66) was one shot back, and three-time champion Bernhard Langer (67) and University of Illinois golf coach Mike Small (66) were another shot behind and tied for fifth.
Henderson has edge at LPGA Tour event
SYLVANIA, Ohio - Brooke Henderson birdied the 17th hole at Highland Meadows Golf Club during a so-so back nine in the third round of the Marathon Classic, but her 2-under 69 pushed her to 11-under 202 overall and gave her a one-stroke lead.
The late birdie - one of five in a round that included three bogeys - moved the 20-year-old Canadian out of a tie for first as she seeks her second win this season. She has the 54-hole lead in an LPGA Tour event for the fifth time and has three wins in that position.
Brittany Lincicome (67) and Angela Stanford (65) were in second, with Jacqui Concolino (69) another stroke back and 11 players tied for fifth and within three shots of the lead.