Nassau, Bahamas

Tiger Woods was Russell Knox’s boyhood hero but on the eve of the Hero Challenge Knox had yet to formally meet this week’s tournament host.

Knox will tee-up in the limited 18-player £STG 2.8m event where all attention will focus on Woods who is ending a 465-day competitive absence on the ultra-exclusive Ernie Els design course at coastal Albany.

Knox arrived on Monday morning local time after a 22-hour flight from Melbourne, Australia on the private jet owned by Australia’s Adam Scott, and a resident of the Bahamas.

Joining Knox on the flight was the Americans Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker and with Scott making available his jet while he remained in Australia to contest this week’s Australian PGA Championship on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

Scoitland’s Russell Knox works on his short game ahead of this week’s debut in the Hero World Challenge

“I wanted to into this event given there is only 18 players in the field, so when I got the call I was really, really happy,” said Knox.

Knox had revealed his boyhood fondness for Woods ahead of teeing-up earlier this year in a maiden Masters appearance.

“Tiger and I have never officially met and we did bump into each other once in the locker room at the Quicken Loans event this year, so  I look forward to officially meeting Tiger.

“Tiger was one of my heroes growing up and he still is, any anyone my age grew-up watching and admiring Tiger and how he dominated the game.

“So, we all looked up to him and that’s the reason I am here this week.

“In fact, I remember saying to you when we were down in Austin this year that I have posters of Tiger all over my bedroom walls along with all the records he broke.

“I used to watch him all the time on TV and when the PGA Tour came to TPC Sawgrass, as I’d be out there following Tiger around the golf course and it was just brilliant watching him play.”

But while Knox had not been introduced to Woods the Scot, like the rest of the golf world, was wishing the 14-time Major well in what will be a very much-watched comeback.

“I like everyone will be wishing Tiger well this week and it’s just the amazing the build-up and buzz his return to competition is generating,” said Knox.

“I just hope he’s healthy and he can play four rounds but then for me, it doesn’t really matter how he plays as long as he gets stronger with each round and each tournament he plays.

“The golf world needs a fit Tiger Woods and it may not be this week but then it may, and hopefully this will be it for him so that he can keep playing and be healthy.

“Of course, golf can be a very selfish sport but everyone wants to see Tiger do well and get back to the form that saw him break all those records I have pasted up on my bedroom wall.”

However, Knox did draw a line and that was if the pair were coming down the last on Sunday tied for the lead.

“I am definitely going to be out there trying to beat him but seriously we just all want him to do well.   That’s what everybody wants.  We all want a crack at Tiger at least one time in our careers but we just want to see him being competitive again.”

This week’s Hero World Challenge will be Knox’s penultimate showing of the season as he’s entered next week’s Greg Norman hosted Shark Shootout in Naples, Florida.

“I’ve been playing great of late and I can see no reason not to continue that good form into my last two events of the year,” he said.

Knox will play the opening round in the company of Argentinean Emiliano Grillo teeing off in the last group at 5.30pm UK time later today (THURS).