The Scot was one-under par standing on the par three third hole that Knox was playing as his 12th when he was soon taking a penalty drop after an errant drive.

Knox, who was runner-up in ‘Mexico’s Major’ two years ago, had earlier recorded three birdies and two bogeys on the Gulf of Mexico course at Playa del Carmen.

Knox was far from out of trouble in playing a poor third result that then resulted in being forced to take a second penatly drop before walking off with a triple bogey ‘7’.

But then in a surprise turnaround Knox birdied then next four holes and after a par at his 17th he birdied the last in an eventual round of a three-under par 68 to end the day just outside the top-20.

It was a remarkable reaction after the triple-bogey sat Knox on his backside and well down the board outside the leading 100 in the $US 7.1m event.

Knox now heads to round two trailing six shots behind little-known Americn Patton Kizzire who posted a blistering nine-under par 62 to end the day leading by two shots from Vaughan Taylor with Rickie Fowler tied in third spot at five-under.

Knox had tweeted ahead of teeing-off ‘Getting ready for a good day’ in reference to lacing-up a new pair of Skechers golf shoes but little was his aware what a remarkable day it would turn out to be.

Well done, Russell!