Knox has another shot at the Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa Valley this week -15 S Burns (US); -13 H Higgs (US); -12 C Percy (Aus), R Knox (Sco), DJ Trahan (US); -11 J Hahn US), D Ghim (US) Selected others: -8 B Taylor (Eng); -6 P Mickelson (US) Missed Cut: -3 S Lowry (Ire), S Garcia (Spa); -1 M Laird (Sco); +2 S Power (Ire); +4 L Donald (Eng)

Scotsman Russell Knox is three strokes off the lead halfway through the opening event of the season's PGA Tour, the Safeway Open.

Knox, one before after an opening 63, added a bogey-free three-under 69 to reach 12 under after 36 holes.

Sam Burns leads at 15 down, with fellow countryman Harry Higgs two behind after an albatross in his 62.

Higgs drilled off from 230 yards on his last hole, the par-five ninth, after he'd birdied six on his front nine.

It was the first albatross on the PGA Tour since Johnson Wagner at last year's RSM Classic and only the third in the history of the Safeway Open.

The cut came in five under, two shots too many for Open Champion Shane Lowry, who carded two bogeys in a 73.

Former Masters champion Sergio Garcia also missed the cut as he also finished three under, despite an eagle in his round of 69, but recent Champions Tour winner Phil Mickelson qualified after a bogey-free 67 took him to six under.

Knox and Mark Anderson, who share the 26th at bottom seven, are the only players without a bogey during the first two rounds.