Heartache For Knox In Georgia – A Shot Shy Of Play-Off

7 months ago by Comments Off on Heartache For Knox In Georgia – A Shot Shy Of Play-Off

It was heartache for Scotland’s Russell Knox in looking to take a huge step in returning to the PGA Tour only to miss out by a shot in making the play-off on the secondary Korn Ferry Tour.

With six holes to play Knox was leading by one shot 17-under in the Club Car Championship in Savannah, Georgia.

Then in what was a four shot turnaround, Knox bogeyed the 13th hole around the same period of time American Rick Lamb eagled 14 and then birdied 15 to go to 17-under and with Knox dropping back into a three-way tie for second at 16-under and with the other two players in the clubhouse on 16-under.

Knox needed a birdie at the par-5 final hole to tie Lamb who was now the clubhouse leader on 17-under but it was not to be and with Frenchman Jeremy Gandon, who was partnering Knox in the final round, birdieing three of his closing five holes to tie Lamb in the lead.

Gandon then birdied the first extra hole, the par-5 18th to capture the title

The affable Florida-based Knox last tasted success in denying Kiwi Ryan Fox to secure victory in the 2018 Irish Open at Ballyliffin.

That win was all of 164 tournaments ago with Knox loosing his PGA Tour membership status at the end of 2023, so it’s meant plying the secondary Korn Ferry Tour.

Knox had been reminded ahead of the final round that he had won at the highest level, including the 2015 WGC – Champions event in China, and what would it take to secure victory on the secondary Korn Ferry Tour.

“It’s the same, it’s the same”, said Knox.

“I always say to people, you can’t get more nervous than nervous, so it’s the same feeling I’ll have tomorrow that I had when I won the WGC event in China. It’s always going to be almost impossible.

“The feeling you have, I mean, you’re alive but it’s difficult. Sometimes it goes right, so you just kind of keep swinging and hope for the best and maybe tomorrow will be my day. If not, I’ll pack my stuff up, go home and try again”.

Knox’s effort in sharing third place has seen him jump 62 places to be the new World No. 302nd ranked golfer and a long way from a career high of No. 18 at the end of the 2016 season.



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