Austin, TX …
A smile returned to Russell Knox’s face in not only seeing the Scottish Saltire beside his name but more importantly singing the praise of a new driver after defeating American Bill Haas 3 & 2 his opening round robin match of the WGC – Dell Match-Play.
The No. 17 seed Scot was never behind against his 42nd seed opponent going 2up with winning pars the first and third holes.
Knox then went 3up with a six-foot birdie at the 1oth and despite losing the 12th hole with a bogey, the outcome was never in doubt and sealing victory in sending a 93-foot chip shot to just two feet for a winning birdie at the 16th.
It was a welcome return to form for Knox who had missed the cut in three of his last four events.
Russell Knox chatting with BBCs 5 Live Iain Carter as the England flag flutters in the background at the Austin Country Club.
“It’s just great to have a driver to my liking back in the bag so much so I am now so much more confident walking onto the tee, and even after this one match using the driver,” he said.
“Driving and putting has always been my strong points and if I can get it in play off the tee, that I normally do, then like today that was the key to win today against a very strong opponent.
“Bill will admit he didn’t play all that well today but then the good thing is that I didn’t give him anything today except the one hole, the 12th where I had a bogey, so that was good.
“Other than that I was pretty solid and besides that is what match-play is all about and that’s not to give your opponent anything.”
The Scottish flag appears beside Russell Knox’s name.
And there was the joy for Knox ahead of teeing off in browsing over from the practice putting green to look at the main Match-Play scoreboard.
An USA flag appeared beside his name yesterday and with Knox tweeting:
Come on @DellMatchPlay @PGATOUR get the Scottish flag next to my name please!!!!!!!
It prompted one return tweet to Knox suggesting if he might be now eligible for the USA Ryder Cup team.
“I had a little look at the board to see that they found a Scottish flag to put beside my name as being Scottish I am glad to see the Scottish flag up there alongside my name,” he said.
“A lot of the guys back home in Scotland weren’t happy not to see the Scottish flag up there and none of us are as I am here competing in these World Golf Championships representing Scotland so it’s good to see it all sorted.”
Knox now faces Korean K T Kim in today’s (THUS) second round robin match and with Kim losing 4 & 2 to Masters Champion Danny Willett.
“I played alongside K T a few times now on the Tour, and I played with him the first two rounds when I won the WGC out in China,” he said.
“K Ts a strong player and I will need to be on my game again tomorrow but winning my first match just gives you that spring in your step and that’s how I feel.
“So we’ll go out there and try and again do our best”.
