St. Louis, Missouri …..

Lone Scot Russell Knox admitted he had ‘gone to sleep’ in bogeying his opening three holes before bravely holing six one-putts over his inward nine in a round of 71 on the opening day of the PGA Championship at Bellerive.

It left Knox trailing seven shots behind American Gary Woodland who signed for a six-under par 64 and with Rickie Fowler just a shot behind.

Top-Scot Russell Knox earns a well-done hug from his No. 1 supporter and wife, Andrea after brilliantly turning around his first day in the 2018 PGA Championship. (Photo @tourmiss)

Knox, who teed-off in the afternoon half of the draw, three-putted the 10th, the 11th and three-putted the par-5 12th hole from 10-foot for three ‘5s’ on his scorecard and in his fifth PGA Championship appearance.

But the reigning Irish Open champion settled down to par his next seven holes ahead of the first of four birdies when he landed a 121-yard second shot to six-feet and rolled-in his birdie putt at the par-4 second hole that Knox was playing as his 11th.

Knox pared the third and then proceeded to play the next five holes bogey, birdie, bogey and then birdied the par-4 seventh from just 3-feet and the par-5 eighth from 16-feet.

He ended with a par and very pleased to head to the scorer’s room with a one-over par 71.

Indeed, Knox recorded 32 putts in his round including 20 over his outward nine, and with three-putts at his first, second, third and ninth holes. while he posted amazingly just 12 putts over the inward half.

And among those dozen putts was remarkably six one-putts at his 10th, 11th, 13th, 14th, 16th and 17th holes.

“After my start, I just felt I’ve shot a 65,” said Knox.

“I just fell asleep at the start and I was clearly struggling to concentrate as I started with three three-putts and it was such a sloppy start.

“Maybe it was something to do with the heat and maybe I worked a bit too hard on the range as I just didn’t get what I was doing correct.

“Overall, it was day of complete mistakes as I three-putted four times.  I had thinned a 9-iron left hitting into the 11th or my second hole and it was just a day of complete mistakes and it was only due to the fact my putter warmed-up I managed to get back to one-over.

“So, looking back I was very, very average and I could have shot 77 but then I managed to get it going on my back nine or the front nine of the golf course and that included holing a 15-footer for bogey on the fourth or my 13th and then I birdied the next.

“It could have been a million and I am delighted, so I will head off for a meal tonight very happy.

“So, I would now go as far as that is one of my best dig deep and fight-back rounds for some time.”

Waiting for Knox after his round was his No. 1 supporter and a very proud wife, Andrea and embracing her husband with a well-done and much-deserved hug.

The effort left Knox officially sharing 62nd place but heading into a early second round tee-time just three shots from a top-20.

“I just haven’t had that many rounds where I felt so bad over the putter but managed to turn it around,” Knox added.