Scotland’s Russell Knox climbed off the couch to contest this week’s Valspar Championship to set his sights clearly on next month’s Masters.

Knox delighted his visiting parents in posting a first round 69 and was looking to build on that heading out on day two of the $US 5.9m event at the Innisbrook Resort in Tampa Bay, Florida.

Scotland’s Russell Knox returns to competition after a third place in the Honda Classic and looking now to take a first drive down Magnolia Lane. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)

Knox is returning to competition after sharing third place behind double winning Open Champion Padraig Harrington in last fortnight’s Honda Classic.

And after he spent the week ‘relaxing on the couch’ the current World No. 76 ranked Knox has sprung back to competition setting himself the goal of breaking into the top-50 by the month’s end and the assurance of a first Masters invitation.

“I had a very relaxing week off and didn’t do very much as the weather wasn’t great, so spent most of the time on the couch and getting myself recharged,” he said before teeing off Friday.

“My game feels as good as it’s ever felt and my goal now, aside from getting that first PGA Tour victory, is a Masters invitation.

“The Masters is now a huge goal being as close to the top-50 as I am, so I’ve also entered next week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational and then I’m also going to play the Valero Texas Open.

“If I don’t earn a Masters invitation I will then take the week off and not play the Houston Open and the week prior to Augusta.

“So I just want to keep playing good and hopefully I will make it to Augusta.

“As well, I would like to also qualify for the Match-Play Championship at the end  next month in San Francisco but it’s the Masters that’s now my first focus.

“I played very good yesterday and also played smart in putting tee to green while I putted well on these tricky greens.”