The Australian finished with a one-under-par 70 on Thursday to be four behind joint leaders Steve Stricker and Harrison Frazar at Firestone Country Club.
It threatened to unravel midway through his front nine when the Victorian made a double-bogey at the par-3 15th. He then dropped a shot on the par-5 16th to slip further down the field.
But a birdie on the 17th, along with others on the 2nd, 6th and 9th – his closing hole – ensured he is right in the mix come Friday, despite one dropped shot on the 7th.
McKenzie is in a tie for ninth with David Toms and Ken Duke, one behind Ernie Els and Justin Leonard (68).
Joint leader Stricker, who won two senior majors in May and has four tournament victories overall this season, is attempting to run away with the Charles Schwab Cup title. His round Thursday featured an eagle, four birdies and a single…