Crooked Stick, Carmel, IN …. Scotland’s top-ranked Russell Knox has had his left wrist strapped for the past two days of the BMW Championship at Crooked Stick in Indianapolis.
The bandaging is on whilst on the range and on the Pete Dye designed course and with Knox pointing out it helps with a cyst he has on top of hand.
However Knox is not overly concerned and sought to brush off any long-term worry after a steady second round 69 for a share of 19th place at four under heading to the weekend rounds of the $US 8.5m event.
“The strapping on my wrist is just a small protection and I should be fine,” he said.
Russell Knox and showing his left wrist strapped following a second round 69 at the BMW Championship. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Knox was one of a handful to have finished his first round on Thursday and just prior to 8pm local time when the siren was sounded to halt play.
He had spoken briefly on Thursday night of the frustration of trying to keep the three-putts off his card.
Well he kick-started his second day’s play in brilliant style commencing birdie, par and birdie and indeed one-putting each of those holes. Knox pared the next six holes before his only bogey of the round at the 10th and then birdied the remaining par 3s – holing a 10-footer at the 13th and then sinking a 22-foot birdie gem at the 17th.
“I was pretty happy with my play today as I burned the edge all day and I’m really pleased as the game feels good,” he said.
“I played really aggressive today as I was trying to shoot a really low score and the only thing that hurt me today was that I didn’t birdie any of the par 5s and that’s where the rain has hurt me as it’s made the course play so much longer and that has played somewhat out of my hands.
“But then I got off to a great start and that was all to do with trusting myself a bit more with the putter compared to yesterday and I’m BELIEVE I didn’t three-putt once, and that’s about the first time I can stand here and say that in about the last eight rounds.”
Knox is assured now of becoming only the second Scot since Martin Laird in 2010 to qualify for the PGA Tour’s season-ending Tour Championship. He is currently ranked as high as No. 7 on the Cup points list and only has to remain in the top-30 at the end of this week to be assured an Atlanta tee time.
The Tour’s current projection is that Knox will drop to No. 9 but the reigning WGC – HSBC champ has other thoughts.
“I am clearly looking ahead to Atlanta and all my focus now is the Tour Championship,” he said.
“I know I am playing great and hopefully now I can have a really good weekend. All I need to do is play the par 5s better and I’ve set myself the goal of getting to 10-under so that my target now.”
And Knox played the opening two rounds in the company of reigning PGA champion, Jimmy Walker who also will be competing in the Ryder Cup later this month and it was a topic of discussion between the pair over the two days.
“We spoke a bit about the Ryder Cup and I bounced off him who he thought would get a pick on Monday. I asked him if he had spoken to Davis about the picks and he said he had, so we’ll all have to wait and see on Monday who the three are.”
