Lone Scot Russell Knox joked he would wear a Donald Trump ‘Make America Great Again’ cap if he were to win this week’s WGC – Cadillac Championship.
Golf and politics meet head-on at this week’s $US 10m event being staged on Trump National Doral in suburban Miami.
A strong US Secret Service presence is already visible about the course known affectionately as the ‘Blue Monster’ while security has been beefed-up ahead of Trump’s appearance here on Sunday.
While Rory McIlroy found himself drawn into the Presidential election process, the Florida-based Knox said he would not mind meeting Trump but only as the new WGC – Cadillac champion.
If so, Knox would be the first player since Tiger Woods in 2007/08 to win back-to-back WGC titles.
Donald Trump sporting – Make America Great Again cap. (Photo – AP)
“I guess it is unique to have someone running for US President, and who owns the golf course where we are competing this week,” said Knox.
“Trump sure puts on an amazing show as the hotel and facilities are incredible while the golf course is in perfect and amazing shape, so he’ doing something right here at Trump Doral.
“But then I don’t know if he’s going to be President.
“Fair enough, he has loads of cash and he buys golf courses the PGA Tour play on so good for him, and yes, I’m jealous (smiling).
“And if I were to win on Sunday I would wear one of those hats, the hats with the caption ‘Make America Better Again’
“So I would be happy wearing one those red caps if he handed me the trophy and he would be my favourite man.”
Russell Knox hits off the 18th hole at Trump Doral for a first time in his career. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Knox finds himself the lone Scot in the 66-player field but also still awaiting a replica Old Tom Morris trophy after organisers of last October’s WGC – HSBC Champions spelt his surname – Know.
And if successful, Knox would at least hope organisers spell his name right after the half-size replica of the Old Tom Morris trophy in winning last year’s WGC – HSBC Champions event arrived with his surname spelt – KNOW.
However Knox will first have to come to grips with the ‘Blue Monster.
“This week is another example of this year being very different for me as I haven’t played he at Doral before but then I hadn’t played the Shanghai course before and that turned our all right for me,” he said.
“But then in saying that there are some courses like Shanghai where you can get away without knowing it beforehand whereas on the flip side, there is others that it works the opposite.
Russell Knox hits off the 18th at Trump Doral.
“And this Doral course could be one of those as the course is going to be playing firm whereas Shanghai was soft.
“However this Doral course is very much a Florida course as there is plenty of water about.
“Also my win in Shanghai is long gone and while I come here as the last-up WGC winner it means nothing teeing-up this week, and it’s all about trying to win a second WGC title.”
