Austin, TX …

After an agonising 10 month search Russell Knox reckons he’s finally found a user-friendly driver heading into today’s opening match (WED) in the WGC – Dell Match-Play Championship in Austin, Texas.

Knox cracked the face of his driver at last year’s Irish Open and in an event he pushed tournament host Rory McIlroy over the final round before settling for second behind McIlroy.

Since then Scotland’s top-ranked golfer has beaten a virtual path to the equipment trucks.

Unfortunately, and as we have seen of late, it’s greatly affected his game so much so he’s missed the cut in three of his last four events and finished well down in the other, the ‘no cut’ WGC – Mexico Championship.

He’s now got a Srixon ‘Z 565’ 10.5 degree driver in the bag and couldn’t be happier ahead of his match with American Bill Haas.

Russell Knox’s new Srixon driver at 2017 Dell Match-Play (Photo – www.golfbtyourmiss.com)

“I’ve some issues with the driver for a long time but I’ve got a new Srixon driver so I am thrilled with that, so I feel the best about my equipment than I have for a long time,” said the Scot.

“While there have been times I felt I drove it well it just didn’t feel like my old driver, and the one I cracked at the Irish last year.

“So after a poor start to the year, I am looking now as this week is the start to my season.

“And the good thing is my first match is against Bill Haas and he’s a great guy and I’ve come to know him well in playing a few practice rounds in his company.

“I’ve then got K T Kim on Thursday and then Masters champion Danny Willett on Friday, so it would be nice if the key to getting through the round robin and into the last 16 would be beating Danny as that would be a nice scalp.

Russell Knox points to the crack in the face of his WGC – HSBC winning driver that happened during the 2016 Irish Open. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

“But every match is going to be tough and there will be no easy one.”

“And winning any match in the least amount of holes would be ideal given the nature of this hilly Austin course.”

Haas, who spent a very long time yesterday (TUES) on the range under the guidance of his father, Jay said he was looking forward to his match against Knox and after the 34-year old secured his best result in the event a year ago in winning through to the last 16.

“Russell is probably one of my favourite guys out here and I just really get along with him well,” he said.

“We don’t hang out off the course all that much but for some reason I just like the way he plays the game and in that regards it should be an enjoyable match.

“Of course, you don’t want to lose to anybody this week but at the same time he’s also been playing some of the best golf of anybody out here and knowing that going into our match I have to bring my A game.

“So, it will be a tough match but they all are.”

However there was just one small Knox hiccup but not that will worry the Scot and that was organisers stuck a ‘Stars and Stripes’ against his name.