PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Colt Knost had an opportunity to set the Stadium Course record at TPC Sawgrass on Friday -- only to three-putt the final green after missing a par putt from 5 feet.
Knost, 30, the 2007 U.S. Amateur champion, had 10 birdies and a bogey and was bidding to become the first player to shoot 62 at the home of the Players Championship.
He had hit his approach to the par-4 18th green to 43 feet, but then his birdie putt came up short.
"I was nervous on the tee shot because I hit it in the water there yesterday and made double," said Knost, who was aware of the record. "... I was honestly fine over the first putt, thought I hit a pretty good one, and it just was a lot slower than I thought.
"I was nervous on the 4- or 5-footer, however far it was. But honestly, I hit a good putt. I hit it on the left edge, and it just stayed there and lipped out."
Knost still tied the course record of 63 -- accomplished by Greg Norman, Fred Couples, Martin Kaymer, Roberto Castro and Jason Day, who did it during the opening round here on Thursday.
Knost, who has never won on the PGA Tour and has no top-10 finishes in 15 starts this season, hit all 18 greens in regulation, taking only 27 putts for the round.
After opening with a 72, he finished Friday's round at 9-under 135 and is a stroke behind early leaders Jonas Blixt and Alex Cejka, who each shot consecutive 67s and are 10 under.
Day, the first-round leader, had yet to tee off Friday.
