Growing up in Scotland and Russell Knox was no different to any other youngster, anywhere around the world.
If you were growing-up in Australia, the youngsters no doubt pictured themselves as Greg Norman looking to hole a putt to win the 1993 Open or if you grew-up in Spain, the nine, 10 and 11-year old’s probably would liken themselves to Seve Ballesteros having a putt at their local golf course to capture maybe the 1979 Open to beat Jack Nicklaus at Royal Lytham and St. Annes.
Knox was the same growing-up in Inverness but now like so many others he was very disappointed to learn the news earlier this month the R & A, as organisers of The Open, cancelled the event to be played in 2021 at Royal St. George’s.
“It’s very disappointing as a Brit not to have the opportunity to get to play in The Open as growing-up you dream of competing in the event and I was the same growing-up in Scotland,” he said from his residence in Jacksonville, Florida.
“Though in hearing the news I was not overly surprised it was cancelled.
Scotland’s Russell Knox teeing-off in The Open.
“I don’t know, and given the Wimbledon and the insurance policy connection rumours, if it came down to that but clearly for a tournament in the U.K. of that stature and with people travelling from virtually all over the world to attend, it’s disappointing from that viewpoint.
“The R & A has no doubt made the decision as a precaution with that view in mind, that there would be so many travelling all over the map to get to Royal St. George’s and then with the probable likelihood of self lock down measures no doubt still in place.
“So, all we can do now is look forward to The Open 2021 and on the plus side, I now have plenty of time to qualify as I am not yet exempt”.
And it was a touch of double disappointment for Knox in learning the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open has been postponed.
Knox was not intending to contest Scotland’s premier event unless he qualified for the following week’s 149th Open Championship but with the cancellation of golf’s oldest major and a revised 13-event remaining PGA Tour 2019/20 schedule, all focus naturally until the first week of September will be on the PGA Tour.
“I have not even looked at potential European Tour events as right now heading back to the U.K. and Europe is not even on my radar, and I am sure that is much the case for any of the Europeans living over here,” he said..
“I’ve heard the news the Scottish Open has been postponed so that too is sad news and we will just have to wait and see what date they decide to now play the tournament.
“First and foremost, it is all about hopefully getting going again on the PGA Tour in Fort Worth and playing where I have played well in the past and, number one task being taking care of business over here and then we will see what then happens.”
