Hitlon Head, SC ..,

Russell Knox continues to bury the demons of a second Augusta flop and picking up a few tips from past Masters Champion, Vijay Singh during this week’s  RBC Heritage in South Carolina.

Scotland’s top-ranked golfer bowed out of the year’s first Major with horror rounds of a pair of 76s.

But Knox put that aside to be well in contention at Hilton Head and where he went within a shot of victory a year ago.

He said  “I spent last weekend of the house that we rented watching the Masters on TV and feeling miserable (smiling).

“So that seemed to worked for me last year in finishing joint runner-up.

Vijay Singh raises his arm in winning the 2000 Masters.

“But watching Sergio and Justin fighting it out was just amazing golf.  I don’t know either of them that well but they were both playing unbelievable.

“Of course, Sergio has come close so many times and for him to win was terrific and I sure hope I get that chance one day.

“But coming here after the disappointment of last week is the perfect tonic as the weather has been absolutely unbelievable and there is just a relaxed atmosphere about the whole event.”

Knox contested the opening two rounds at Hilton Head in the company of Singh, the 2000 Masters winner, and reckons he gained a few tips from the now 54-year old Fijian.

He said   “I feel like that when I watch Vijay swing it makes me swing a little better. I don’t know why or can I explain that but his set-up is so good and he just looks so relaxed and he has such a beautiful swing.”

Adding to Knox’s demeanour has been a new Srixon driver that went into the bag a few weeks back along with a “See More” putted has put Knox straight into contention in Hilton Head.

In fact, the Scot took just 24 putts on day two.

And it was a Hilton Head a year ago where Knox’s joint second place finish kick-started his Stateside season and going to make the cut in his 11 remaining events and capped by a second Tour victory at the Travellers Championship.

He said   “I look back to this time last year, and while I had won out in China late in the year before, my second place finish here a year ago was really the start of my good season as I went on to play good at The Players and then finish runner-up to Rory in Ireland and just kind of went on from there.

“But I have been looking forward to this week as I really have not been playing as bad as my scores would suggest of recently.”