Scotland’s Russell Knox was headed for a dip in the pool after boosting hopes of earming the last invitation into the Masters with a sizzling 65 on day one at the 100th anniversary of the Valero Texas Open.
Knox, 36, had plenty of the sponsor’s product in the tank with a bogey-free display of seven birdies and a share of the lead in the £stg 6.54m event on the TPC San Antonio course.
Danish 21-year-old sensation Rasmus Hojgaard tied Knox with a birdie at his 10th and then went one clear of the field with a birdie at his 15th ahead of making a mess of his last in posting a shock double-bogey ‘6’ to end the round with a 66 and drop to second place on six under.
The double Tour winning Knox, who has missed the cut in his past trio of Texas Open showings, capped his round with four birdies in succession from the 12th to 15th holes in the city famed for The Alamo, but the pick of the seven in chipping in from 60-feet at the par-3 seventh hole.
Knox said: “It was a great day with plenty of good things happening, such as the sneaky chip-in at seven, and good up-and-downs to keep the round going on the front nine.
“I then kept hitting good shots on the inward half, so it was just a nice day to capitalise on my good play.
“If there was a key to my round, it was my driver, and I’ve worked hard on my driver. The club has always been a strength of my game, and while it fell away, I have some great thoughts when I stand over the ball on the tee.
“It’s been building for months now. To see good drives on tricky holes is great so my confidence is so good with the driver is the highest it’s been in years.
“So, in saying that it’s swimming pool time for me (smiling)”.
The World No. 169th’s score is his lowest opening round since a 63 to kick-start the 2020 Safeway Open and his lowest score since a third-round 64 earlier this year on day three of the Sony Hawaii Open.
The Jacksonville-based Scot hit 11 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 green, and with his score easily the lowest by five shots in 15 loops in now six appearances in the Texas event.
It’s been five years since Knox’s last appearance at the Masters and with the winner, this week in Texas, and not already exempt, will secure the last place into next week’s 86th hosting of the Masters.
However, it’s far too early Knox says to be thinking of what would only be a third Masters.
He said: “No, zero. Not thinking of next week, at all. It would be the biggest bonus of the year obviously if that happened, but no, I’m quite happy to sit on the couch with my dog next week, too.
“Saying that I mean, I’m going to try my hardest to finish first this week”.
Fellow Scot Robert MacIntyre made the most of his invitation with a three-under par 69 while Denver-based compatriot Martin Laird signed for a 70
Laird, who has joined Laird in this week’s event, singed for a two-under-par 70 while McIlroy posted a roller-coaster round of six birdies and just as many bogeys in his 72.
