Hobbling Jacobsen edges one stroke clear at Oak Tree

HOUSTON, May 27 (Reuters) Peter Jacobsen moved one shot clear with a three-under-par 68 in the Senior PGA Championship second round at Edmond, Oklahoma despite being hampered by a sore right knee.

Chasing his third major title in three years, the 51-year-old finished on seven-under 135 after a blustery day at Oak Tree Golf Club.

Fellow American and playing partner Gil Morgan, one stroke ahead overnight, returned a 70 to share second place with Brad Bryant, who posted a best-of-the-day 67.

PGA Tour veteran Jay Haas, bidding for a third consecutive victory on the Champions Tour, was a further two shots back at four under after carding a 70.

''I played very well today and got off to a good start,'' Jacobsen told reporters after collecting three birdies in a blemish-free display. ''And I've driven the ball well so far the two days.

''It's important here because the surrounds of the greens are so difficult to get the ball up-and-down from that everything runs into a collection area.

''Putting the ball on the green is key and I have done that really well.'' Jacobsen, who underwent hip and knee surgery last year, won his first major title in the senior ranks at the 2004 U.S. Senior Open.

SECOND MAJOR He clinched his second at last year's Senior Players Championship where he birdied two of the last three holes.

Asked how he coped with his hip and knee problems, he replied: ''Some days it hurts when I swing and I'm just kind of compensating.

Others it doesn't.

''Pretty much the last four or five holes I get a little bit fatigued. You'll see me stretching and doing a lot of crazy things out on the course. It hurts to walk and I hobble around.'' Tom Watson, the 2001 champion, returned a 71 to share fifth place at three under with fellow Americans Loren Roberts (71) and Dana Quigley (70) and Spaniard Jose Rivero (69).

Roberts, chasing a second consecutive major title following his victory at The Tradition last August, was frustrated with his performance.

''I'm really not playing very well,'' said the 50-year-old, who leads the 2006 Champions Tour money list with .07 million after winning his first three events.

''I'm just not hitting the ball good enough to really do anything right now. And I missed a few putts today, but made a couple. But we're still in it.'' Twice U.S. Open winner Curtis Strange shot a 72 to share 11th place at one under, a stroke ahead of defending champion Mike Reid, who carded a second successive 71.

REUTERS DH RN0649