Happiness fires at 3M Open

Curtis Luck: finding shape in the US. Image: Getty

The timing of Curtis Luck can hardly be better.

The professional from Perth struggles to influence the American PGA Tour for his first full year, leaving him vulnerable to the loss of his playing rights.

But Luck's putter went up and chose 65 points today at TPC Twin Cities to go with an opening 68 that places him in the mix at the 3M Open.

Even a bogeyman out of the water at the ninth hole, his last of the day, was able to drop him off the leaderboard.

The American Bryson DeChambeau, who managed to match the track record with 62, is in the lead – substandard. Happiness is nine-in-par in a tie for the sixth, five shots back.

Ironically, the Western Australian has said in the past that tournaments with a low score are not necessarily at their best; in this case the cut line was well above par but he played well enough to give himself a chance.

The 22-year-old former American Amateur champion has missed 10 cuts in 19 starts this year with only one top-10 finish to show for his efforts. In this week he came in 186th on the positions of the Fedex Cup points, outside the line of those who retain the right to play for next season, and who have to make haste.

Otherwise it was a quiet week for Australians. Jason Day hit a ball in the water when he couldn't afford it on the par-four 10th and took another hack in danger of a penalty drop and a triple bogey seven ruined his day.

South Australian Wade Ormsby is just outside the top five in the Irish Tour of the European Tour in Lahinch, for two laps.