Knox Right At Home Storming To The Front In Scottish-Like Mayakoba Conditions.

5 years ago by Comments Off on Knox Right At Home Storming To The Front In Scottish-Like Mayakoba Conditions.

Scotland’s Russell Knox felt right at home in the Scottish-like conditions and storming his way to the front by a shot with a six-under par 65 late on day one of the Mayakoba Championship at Playa del Carmen in Mexico.

Knox grabbed seven birdies in his round with just the one dropped shot as he looks to go one better than finishing joint runner-up in the 2015 event.

Knox’s round, in windy and sometimes wet conditions, was his lowest since a Safeway Open first round 63 last September and in the first event of the 2020/21 wraparound schedule.

The Florida-based Scot, and teeing-off from the 10th hole, grabbed birdies at his fourth, fifth and sixth holes before back-to-back birdies at his eighth and ninth holes.

Knox dropped a shot at his 11th but then moved back to five-under but then regained the shot with a birdie at his 14th.

The proud Scot then took the lead in the $US 7.2m event landing his tee-shot some 10-feet right of the 15th hole flagstick and then rolled in the birdie putt ahead of a trio of closing pars.

“It took me a few holes to kind of settle into my round, but when I did, I had six or seven very good holes. I hit the ball well, drove it in the fairway, and with lift, clean and place, I could be fairly aggressive.

“And the conditions felt a little like back home in Scotland. I mean, I always kind of want it to be a little windy, I feel like I can  flight my ball well at times.

“But it’s so soft out here, it’s the opposite of like links golf. No, I’m thrilled with that and look forward to trying again tomorrow.”

And it was not just the Scottish-like conditions that continues to delight Knox as he also loves all things Mexican as he explained when asked why he plays so well in Mexico.

“I guess it’s the tequila and tacos,” he said smiling.

“Obviously I love the course, it sets up well for me. I mean, historically, my driving accuracy and iron play’s been my strength, so that’s kind of the key things that this course brings out in you.

“Yeah, I mean, if I can keep doing that, we should be all right.”

Three players – American Tom Hoge, Chilean Joaquin Niemann and Argentinean Emiliano Grillo – were in second place at five-under par.

 



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