Straffen, Ireland … Scotland’s Russell Knox will tee-up in the Ireland for a first time in his career and looking, not only to satisfy European Tour membership guidelines, but also to add to the European Ryder Cup points tally.
The Florida-based Scot, and current World No. 28, is lying well down one place higher on the European Ryder Cup ‘World Points’ standings.
Scotland’s Russell Knox making his first ever appearance in the Emerald Isle (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
And with these event to be staged on the course where Europe trounced the USA Team, Knox could not have chosen a better venue to ignite his challenge.
“Of course I’d love to make the team, but I’m not putting added pressure on myself to try and qualify,” said Knox.
“I feel I’ll qualify through how I am playing in the US. My focus remains on the PGA Tour.
“When I come over to Europe I feel I am freewheeling more, but these are two big weeks coming up, here in Ireland and at the BMW PGA at Wentworth, and then, of course, there is the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart in early July.
“I’d love to contend in these three tournaments. I feel I am improving all the time, and, yes, I seem to do well in the bigger events.”
But with water in play on 12 K. Club holes, including the 17th where water runs all the way down the left side of the hole, the last thing Knox wants is to making more ripples after last week’s Players Championship ‘water torture’ test.
“I played really well at Sawgrass, and it was just a shame about the ‘9’ at the 17th on the third day,” he said.
“But what happens, happens, and I’m putting it behind me.
“I was really proud of myself that I shot a 68 in the final round after the debacle the previous day. I had only one bogey on the last day, and that was a three-putt at the 17th.”
Knox is among 10 Scots in the field including Glasgow’s Scott Jamieson out in the very first group today at 7.35am
