Russell Knox stormed his way into next fortnight’s Open Championship with his lowest European Tour score in close to three years on the final day of the French Open in Versailles.
Knox, 33 produced a brilliant bogey-free final round of six birdies including four in succession from his eighth hole in a six-under par 65.
The Inverness-born Knox secured one of three qualifying places into the 147th Open by eventually finishing TBA on this year’s Ryder Cup host venue.
Russell Knox shoots his lowest European Tour round since capturing the 2015 WGC – HSBC Champions. (Photo – @europeantour)
And it proved an anxious wait for Knox of his Carnoustie tee time having ended his round at 4.15pm French time, and as the clubhouse leader, before learning of his good fortune.
It will be Knox’s fourth straight Open Championship and the 14th Major of his career.
Knox now joins two other Scots teeing-up at Carnoustie including former Open winner, Sandy Lyle and Scott Jamieson.
“To play in an Open Championship in Scotland, and being a Scot, is a huge honour to get play,” he said.
“I’ve played in the last three Open’s and I would hate to miss one especially as it’s in Scotland.
“I tried my best today and it’s good that I’ve secured one of the places into Carnoustie.”
And Knox is going to ‘links sharp’ when he gets to Carnoustie for the July 19th commencing Open as he’s contesting this week’s Irish Open at Ballliffin and then onto Gullane for the Scottish Open.
Knox’s final round of a six-under 65, and in his first regular European Tour event this year, is his lowest European Tour score in well over two-years since shooting a second round 65 on route to victory in the 2015 WGC – HSBC Champions in Shanghai.
“I am happy but also tired now as a put a lot into the round as it’s a nerve-wracking course to play with a lot of high-stress holes, so I was really happy with my performance today,” he said.
“I was out well before the leaders and I was feeling a little nervous and the leaders are going to feel moreso with so many people gathered around those final few holes.
“I’ve done what I can, I tried my best and while I would have liked to have picked-up one more birdie as a 64 would have given someone something to think about.”
Stephen Gallacher, and the only other Scot to make the halfway cut, posted a final round 72 to share 59th place at eight-over par.
Gallacher managed three birdies but also posted two bogeys but for a second day running the Scot doubled the par-4 seventh hole.
