Pebble Beach, CA …

Russell Knox has assured Ryder Cup Captain, Thomas Bjorn not to be concerned with the Scot satisfying European Tour membership.

Knox rejoined the European Tour well before Bjorn delivered last week’s ‘ultimatum’ to every European-born competing on the PGA Tour to become a member of the European Tour ’so we can get the best possible team’.

The Florida-based Scot had won twice in the 2016 European Ryder Cup qualifying period and while he fell short of automatically qualifying, Knox was glaringly overlooked as one of Darren Clarke’s three wildcard picks.

And while Knox will not be seen competing this year on the European continent till the July 6th starting Irish Open, and an event he finished runner-up to host Rory McIlroy last May at the K. Club, he’s assured Bjorn there will be no concern about the Scot’s goal once 2018 Ryder Cup qualifying gets underway later this year.

Russell Knox ready to sink his teeth deep into the cause of qualifying for the 2018 European Ryder Cup team.

”I read what Thomas had to say last week in Dubai and I’ve read up on the changes the Tour has made with regards to qualifying,” he said.

”The fact that the Europeans being based in the US will now only have to play four regular European Tour events will make it a little easier.

”They are good changes and even though the minimum is four events there will be guys, and myself included, who will probably ending playing more than the four required.

”Those changes should help the European Ryder Cup team going forward even though they have been doing fine despite what happened last October at Hazeltine.

”But for the time being for me it’s all about continuing to try and get that little bit better and continuing to put myself in position with a chance of winning.

”And the good thing now going forward is that I am starting to go back to venues that last year were a stranger to me, so that I am now playing courses for a second time.

”Now I know what courses I really enjoy playing and I have ruled out going to others that simply didn’t suit my game.

”It’s tough going to a tournament that you feel as though it’s going to be pretty hard to win whereas if you like the golf course and you’ve done well in the past then you feel like you can win the tournament.”

Knox is not contesting this week’s AT & T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on the rain drenched shores of the Pacific and instead will return to competition for the February 23rd starting Honda Classic in Florida, and where the Scot lost out in a play-off three years ago.

Instead all-Scottish interest will focus on Martin Laird and moreso after going so close to victory in last week’s Phoenix Open.

Laird, who jumped 18 places to World No. 115, will be partnered by millionaire Cincinnati-born businessman, Scott Farmer CEO of uniform maker Cintas Corp and who last week was ranked among the 15 best CEOs of 2016.

Farmer also shares ownership of FC Cincinnati that last year joined the American/Canadian United Soccer League.

Laird will tee-off in his quest for a fourth PGA Tour title at 3.44pm (UK time) on the Monterey Peninsula course and one of three host venues.