Russell Knox returns to Europe buoyed by a Players Championship final round and a dozen shots fewer after Saturday’s TPC Sawgrass water torture disaster.
Know is bound for Dublin, and Thursday’s starting Irish Open, in posting a last day 68 for a five under par tally on the Stadium course.
However, it was the events late Saturday local time that the local Jacksonville-based Scot was left ruing in putting three balls into the water on route to a ‘9’ at the infamous island-green par three 17th, to sign for an eventual shock 8-over par 80.
Russell Knox happy to get away with a bogey at the infamous island-green 17th after ‘9’ a day earlier. (Photo – www.dailymail.co.uk)
And this was after Knox revealed earlier in the week he has played the TPC Sawgrass Stadium course close to 100 times in the 13 years he’s lived in Jackonsville.
And it was little wonder Knox threw both arms in the air on the final day of the $US 10.5m event when he found the green in regulation with his tee shot at 17, and despite three-putting for bogey, it was the Aberdonian’s only dropped shot on the last day.
“I have never been so nervous standing over a tee shot in all my life,” said Knox.
“I did pull the shot a little and thought it might find the water at the back of the green but when I saw that ball land on the green I was super-relieved.
“That was a career-defining moment for me because if I couldn’t get off the tee there today, I was in big trouble so at least now I know I can do it now and I’m very happy.”
A day earlier there had been one large collective sigh after another from a jam-packed gallery gathered around the 17th but then that turned to delight on the last day.
“It’s not a hard shot. It’s a wedge and all you do is kind of punch in it there,” he said.
“To be honest, we should never miss the green but on Saturday my first shot at 17 came up short and then the second was an epic failure and after that, and given the electricity going through your body, you just can’t control yourself.
“It’s a feeling that I wish that everyone who made fun at me can experience themselves as it’s a horrible feeling.
“So I was just happy to get through that hole and while I three-putted, I beat my score on that hole by five shots.
“It’s just a shame because I played good all week and without what happened there at 17 on Saturday, I could have bene right there.”
Highlight of Knox’s final round was an eagle ‘3’ at the par five 11th hole where he drove the green and holed his 10-foot putt
Knox is also adding next fortnight’s BMW PGA Championship to his schedule not as a part of requirement to satisfy European Tour membership but also help in his goal of qualifying for the European Ryder Cup team
