Birdie king Fisher revels in Hazeltine cheers
The roars were almost deafening for Britain's Ross Fisher as the crowd packed around the 16th green cheered his birdie putt which briefly tied Tiger Woods for the US PGA Championship lead.
The tall Englishman had coolly rolled in a seven-footer to join the world number one at five-under par in Friday's second round before slipping back with a bogey-bogey finish.
"On 16 there, an ovation like that was pretty special," Fisher told reporters after firing a four-under 68 in tricky, gusting winds at Hazeltine National in Chaska, Minnesota.
"It was great to see my name up on the (leader) board. It's early days, it's only Friday but hopefully I'll see my name on the board Sunday afternoon.
"I want to go out there and perform, not only for myself but at the same time to give the fans something to shout about. And come that back stretch, I managed to hole a few putts."
A double winner on the European Tour, Fisher birdied 13, 14 and 16 to surge into a share of the lead in the year's final major before stumbling over the closing holes.
"Obviously in some ways I'm disappointed but overall I'm delighted," the 29-year-old said after ending the round in a five-way tie for second at three-under 141, four strokes behind the pacesetting Woods.
"Finishing bogey-bogey always leaves a little bit of a sour taste, but I'm still in there with a good shout with 36 (holes) to go."
Fisher said a session on the practice green the night before had paid dividends, the Briton needing only 28 putts on Friday.
"Fortunately I did about a half hour's putting last night and seemed to have found something... I saw the ball rolling into the hole a few times. It was very pleasing."
Making only his eighth appearance in a major championship, Fisher has relished performing at the pinnacle of the game.
He finished fifth at the US Open in June and briefly led by two strokes in the final round of last month's Open Championship at Turnberry, Scotland, before fading into a tie for 13th.
"Major championships are where every golfer wants to be," Fisher said after his six-birdie, two-bogey round.
"This is what we dream of playing in ever since you're a kid, and I'm no different."
