Regnum Caya Resort, Belek, Turkey …
Russell Knox is full of Turkish delight ahead of his maiden appearance in this week’s Turkish Airlines Open on the Regnum Caya course in Belek.
Knox has been coerced into contesting the event after feedback from other Europeans competing on the PGA Tour.
The Florida-based Scot has brought his wife and her sister to Mediterranean located venue and then is spending next week in Greece ahead also teeing-up in the European Tour season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
Russell Knox is brimming with delight ahead of maiden appearance in the Turkish Airlines Open (Photo @tourmiss)
He said: “I can’t believe I haven’t been here before as it’s a beautiful place with the weather amazing and the Regnum Caya hotel is just terrific.
“The food in the hotel is amazing and the dining room is just so big and with so much food on offer you are going to need to see the physio to work on you given how much walking you have to do (smiling)
“I played 10 holes Tuesday morning and then a full 18 in the pro-am and the golf course looks really good and a fun course set among the trees.
“I’m desperate for it to remind me of Hilton Head but then it is not quite tight enough and there’s also no alligators (smiling).
Scotland’s Russell Knox on the range at Regnum Caya (Photo @tourmiss)
“I think my game will fit in well with the layout and in saying that, I would like to play well and finish the season strong.”
Knox is coming off a ‘pathetic’ showing in finishing near the tail of the field in last week’s WGC – HSBC Champions but he’s riding high lying 12th on the Race t Dubai.
He said: “Last week in China I played pathetic, which was humbling. You never want to play bad, but sometimes you need that.
“Everything was dreadful, to be honest. Having said that, I feel my game is close.
“What I need to do is limit the bad stuff. I do feel at times I have maybe tried to play a little too perfectly rather than just play the percentages
“So, I just need to edit my game plan and be a little more conservative at times and try to limit the mistakes.
“In saying that my goal over these two events is first to get another win but more than anything I would just love to contend and to be able to get into the mix again and see what happens, and finish the year off on a strong note.
“Then Martin (Laird) and I can head to Australia for the World Cup where it would be nice to end the year filling our pockets before Santa Claus comes down the chimney.”
Knox is being joined in Turkey by Bathgate’s Stephen Gallacher but with Gallacher forced to withdraw from the pro-am due a bad reaction to taking prescribed pills.
Gallacher was confident of teeing-up in the event proper and with son, Jack on the bag for a 15th tournament together.
SCOTTISH TEE TIMES (UK time) –
7.40am Stephen Gallacher
8.45am Russell Knox
