Palm Beach Gardens, FL …

Scotland’s top-ranked Russell Knox is determined to bury last year’s horror Masters debut after revealing he played a practice round last week at Augusta National.

Knox accepted an invitation from Augusta member Bryan Jones of New Jersey, who is on the Masters Rules Committee, ahead of the course hosting the year’s first Major starting on 6th April.

Russell Knox working with his coach Ramon and with the top-ranked Scot revealing he played a practice round last week at Augusta National (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

Joining Knox was his coach, his manager and also friend and fellow PGA Tour pro Henrik Norlander though the Swede, who was runner-up in his first event of the 2016/17 wraparound PGA Tour schedule, is yet to qualify for the Masters.

“It’s just so awesome driving into Augusta and especially now for a second time outside of the Masters, as it’s just a magical place”, said Knox.

“The thing is that while it’s still about six weeks away, Augusta coul

our players aside from Henrik and myself”.

Knox made his much-anticipated maiden Masters showing last year but produced a first round he’d rather forget posting a seven-over par 79 and then a 73 to miss the cut by two shots with an eight over par score.

And when asked what score he shot last week Knox indicated a ‘72’.

“It was opportune last week as I was not playing out in L.A. to head up to Augusta and it’s not too long a drive from Jacksonville”, he said.

“But then playing Augusta last week is not all about Augusta even though playing well at Augusta is super-important.

“I am more focused about peaking this week and also next week in Mexico, so I want to play well every week”.

When Knox talks of hoping to peak at this week’s $US 6.4m (£5.12m) Honda Classic it was at the event three years when the then 29-year old took a huge step onto the world stage when he and Rory McIlroy lost out in a four-way play-off for the title.

Then to show his fondness for the PGA National ‘Champions Course’ and home to the ‘Bear Trap’, Knox shared third place a year later.

“The 2014 Honda Classic was my coming out party so after a second and then a third a year later it would be nice to finally go one better”, he said.

“It’s one of my favourite tournaments of the year and while it’s nice to have good vibes coming back here it doesn’t always guarantee you are going to play well.

“But there is a bigger spring in my step knowing that I can definitely win here”.

While there is strong European presence, headed by Masters champion Danny Willett, the top-six in the world have elected not to play this week.