Russell Knox kick-started his quest to bank a bonus $10m end-of-season pot of gold with a strong showing on the opening day of the Barclays Championship in New Jersey.
The Inverness-born Knox is contesting the FedEx Cup Play Off Series for a first time in his short PGA Tour career and showed he wasn’t fazed posting a four under par 67 in hot and humid conditions on the Ridgwood Country Club course in Paramus.
It put Knox into a clubhouse share of second place and just a shot behind the leading trio of Americans Charles Howell 111, Cameron Tringale and Hunter Mahan.
Russell Knox again displays he’s deserving of a his place in the Play-Off Series.
World No. 1 and current FedEx Cup top-ranked Rory McIlroy struggled around the Tillinghast designed course shooting an indifferent three over par 74 that left him trailing in a share of 99th place.
In fact, McIlroy struggling from the outset to be three-over par after four holes, four over through nine and ending by holing a 32-footer for birdie.
It is the four-time Major winning McIlroy’s poorest round since the ‘Friday Fright’ of a day two 78 in last month’s Scottish Open, and a day after he had shot a then new Royal Aberdeen course record 64.
He said: “I just wasn’t very good, and actually felt I got off to a good start but just short-sided myself on the 12th or my third hole and made double from there, and that, compounded it with a bogey at the next.
“I tried really hard to get some momentum going in the round but I just couldn’t’ really do that”.
And McIlroy ruled out any suggestions of fatigue in the wake of his ‘Triple Crown’ winning effort in capturing The Open Championship, the WGC Bridgestone Invitational and last fortnight’s fourth Major triumph in capturing a second PGA Championship.
He then spent three days celebrating in nearby New York, was guest-of-honour as last Saturday’s Premier League opener at Old Trafford before jetting back to the Big Apple for corporate work, TV appearances and an Ice Bucket Challenge with Tiger Woods.
He said: “Yes, I’ve been to three, four, five, no four different places but it hasn’t been too bad.
“Look, I’m used to the travel. I’m used to doing that. It’s nothing new to me.
“Fatigue isn’t playing a part. It’s just not putting in time in that I probably should have over the past week and I allowed myself that and I deserved that.
“So I need to work hard on the range this afternoon and go out tomorrow and shoot a number.”
Knox also started from the 10th and capped his round four birdies from the 12th hole or the third hole of his day’s work.
However it was driving the green at the fifth hole or his 14th hole and then two-putting from 40-feet that he singled out as the highlight of his first round at Ridgwood.
He said: “It was a great start and this course is just a gem from the first tee to the 18th green as there was just so many holes that suited my eye.
“I played my front nine excellent and that was a good a nine holes I’ve played all season. I just kept in play, made come great irons shots and holed some good putts.
“I didn’t play the back nine as good but hung in there and not to drop a shot was very pleasing.”
Indeed, Knox recorded just 27 putts and five fewer than McIlroy while he hit 11 of 14 fairways with McIlroy struggling to hit just half of the 14 fairways.
Knox added: “Rory is just one player in the field I need to beat but I can’t be focussing on finishing ahead of him because there is just so many amazing players here, and who have deserved to be here.
“In saying that, I have been waiting and looking forward all year to the start of the Play-Offs as it was my goal at the start of the season.
“I’m not only comfortable playing this golf course but I feel really comfortable in these surrounds of playing the Play Offs.
“I feel I’ve had enough good finishes to feel as though I belong out here.
“Also everyone starts from scratch this week so a good result here in New Jersey would take me onto to Boston next week and then onto Denver, and hopefully to the final event in Atlanta and maybe get my hands on that bonus $10m (smiling).”
