Johnson keeps good times rolling with 70

After hitting his tee shot on the 8th hole (his 17th) into bushes right of the fairway, and then hooking his provisional ball into bushes on the left side, Kevin Johnson was suddenly in danger of missing the cut - despite playing solid golf for most of the week.

The Clemson grad knew that he may have had to trek back to the tee to hit what would be his fifth shot. But the golf gods intervened, and Johnson lives to play the weekend - after finding his first ball in the bush and salvaging double bogey.

"Actually made a pretty good double, considering," Johnson said. "I was leaking oil, I guess, because it wasn't pretty.

The Web.com Tour veteran bounced back nicely with a birdie at the reachable par-5 9th, and finds himself in fine position after rounds of 70-70. The six-time winner on the Triple-A circuit is 4-under on the week, four shots back of leader Alistair Presnell.

Considering the Friday conditions at Victoria National, he will take it.

"I thought it played harder," Johnson said. "A couple of the tees were back, the pins were a little tougher. It was hotter today than yesterday afternoon."

After missing eight consecutive cuts, Johnson has now made two in a row after solid Thursday and Friday efforts in Wichita and now Indiana. Regardless of happens on the weekend, he is happy to have the chance to play the final two rounds for the second week in a row.

"I'm happy to get playing again," Johnson said. "I just need to get going a little bit, play some (weekends) and get hot.

Of course, he would love to play well and cash a nice paycheck. But either way, the easygoing 45-year old maintains a relaxed and refreshing attitude about the game - essentially irrespective of whatever may happen on the course.

"I'll get to whack it around a bit," Johnson said.

After his round, Johnson told his caddy to meet him on the range. He said that he would hit a few balls, and then be done for the day.

With the afternoon heat expected to reach around 106 degrees, you couldn't blame him.

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-After his round, Johnson was nice enough to make his way to Alex and his friend - sitting in shade to the right of the 9th green - to thank them for following him for a few holes. Having been to a lot of golf tournaments and never been thanked specifically by a pro, Alex was surprised and very appreciative.

-Currently tied for 14th, Johnson gets his third round underway at 8:56 a.m. CT. Tee times have been moved up to beat the heat - the field is playing in threesomes, and the leaders will tee off at 9:40 a.m.