New Orleans, LA …
Russell Knox and US-teammate Kevin Streelman were planning an evening team meeting over Louisiana oysters after a disappointing one of par effort on day one of the Zurich Classic in New Orelans.
Knox and Streelman, and the best of friends since the Scot first emerged onto the PGA Tour, struggled in the alternate shot managing two bogeys and a lone 16th hole birdie on the TPC Louisiana course.
Russell Knox day one Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Image … www.golfbytourmiss.com
The US/Australian duo of Kyle Stanley and Ryan Ruffels had enjoyed the clubhouse lead with a six-under par 66 for much of the day before being joined just after 6 pm local time by the duo of Jordan Spieth and Ryan Palmer.
The first bogey for Knox and Streelman came off the Americans errant drive right that cannoned off a cart path and deep into the tree line leaving Knox no option but to chip out.
At the par three, 14th Streelman missed his tee shot left and with Knox chipping some 1oth feet shot from where Streelman missed the par putt.
Knox then pulled off what was the shot of the round for the duo when landing a 1o9 yard shot from the right rough to just two feet for the couples only birdie.
“We did not play all that bad and it was a case of not being able to make the putts to create momentum,” said the Scot.
“Except for the one hole, and that was on six, we were never really out of play and that bogey was fine as you are going to make bogeys in this format.
“Then when we hit nice drives, we just seem to leave out second shots about 12-feet or so and just that distance as putting on these greens are hard given they are grainy and tricky to read.
“But then in saying that Kevin made a great par putt on 15 from about nine feet to avoid us going to three-over before I hit this great wedge shot into the next to get us back to one-over.
“So, it would have been nice to get back to even par but it was not meant to be.”
And as for any team meeting ahead of the second round in the $US 7.2m event, and also the first team event on the PGA Tour since 1981 ?
“No, no need for a team meeting but we will be going out again for plate of oysters as they are so good here in this part of the world”, said Knox smiling.
