Scot Russell Knox reckons he ‘dodged a bullet’ in squaring his opening round match against Swede David Lingmerth on day one of the WGC – Dell Match-Play in Austin, Texas.
Knox 1 down on three different occasions against Lingmerth, and the reigning Memorial champion, and only managing to get back to all square in holing an 18-foot gem for birdie at the 17th hole on the Austin Country Club course in the suburban Texas capital.
However with Lingmerth just off the green at the last and with Knox chipping some 14-feet short of the flag with his second, both players had to ask officials who should play their third shot first.
Russell Knox makes his way onto the final green and a halve with Sweden’s David Lingmerth.
It was Knox but with his birdie putt just missing the hole and moments before Lingmerth’s birdie attempt slid inches by the right side of the cup.
Knox said: “I was 1 down with three to play and then in a bad position and in a fairway bunker on 16, so to halve the match from there was a pretty fair result.
“So I feel as though I dodged a bullet today.
Russell Knox said he ‘dodged a bullet’ in his opening round match against David Lingmerth.
“The windy conditions made it tough out there and the golf course is a great test, and a great venue for match-play as if you hit good shots you make lots of birdies, but if you are just off it costs you a million.
“So all in all, I had a decent chance to win and a half a point is not too bad.”
Knox will now play American Chris Kirk in Thursday’s second round robin encounter and after Kirk defeated in-form South African Branden Grace 3 & 1.
Russell Knox squares his first round match against Sweden’s David Lingmerth.
He said: “I guess in the bigger picture the toughness of this first match can only help me in tomorrow’s match against Chris and then against Branden on Friday.
“It was just nice to hang with David today and have it come down to the final hole but I will have to play a little better if I am to progress past the round robin stage.
Lingmerth, who had beaten Justin Rose in a play-off to win last year’s Memorial, bogeyed the first to be 1 down to Knox but then went 1 up with a birdie at five and then holing a 17-foot for eagle at the sixth.
Knox then got back to all square when he holed a 25-foot chip from off the green at the ninth for birdie.
Russsell Knox pleased with the new format and not having to play extra holes after his draw with David Lingmerth
However, he then three-putted the 10th hole from 58-feet to lose with a bogey before Lingmerth handed Knox the 12th and for the match to be back to all square when the Swede flew the green and found water with his third.
The match took another twist at the 15th when Lingmerth holed a nine-foot birdie to go 1up for a third time in their match.
Knox then capped his round with the long-range birdie at 17 for the pair to then halve the match with pars at the last.
