RUSSELL KNOX

DUBAI DUTY FREE IRISH OPEN HOSTED BY THE RORY FOUNDATION

WINNING SCORE: 14-under-par, 274. DEFEATED: Kiwi Ryan Fox on the first hole of a sudden death play-off. DEFINING MOMENTS: Six strokes back of the lead beginning the final round, Knox got off to a good start with an eagle from close range at the par-5 4th and a birdie two holes later to make the turn in 32. The Scot added three more birdies and a bogey by the time he reached the 18th tee. Having missed the fairway, Knox managed to find the final green and roll in his 40-foot birdie putt to sign for six-under 66 and 14-under total. Fox birdied the penultimate hole to match Knox’s total of 14-under and gave himself a chance to claim his first European Tour title, hitting his approach to the 72nd hole to 10 feet. But it wasn’t to be for the Kiwi, his putt missing on the high side, the resulting par four sending the two players back to the 18th tee for a play-off. Missing the fairway again, Knox put his second shot in almost the same position on the green, while Fox was in close for two once again, with a very makeable birdie putt. In almost a carbon copy of regulation, Knox found the bottom of the cup from long range for birdie before Fox’s putt hit the hole and lipped out, handing the Scot his first Rolex Series title. WITH THIS VICTORY… : • The US based Scot earns his second European Tour win in just his 35th Tour start. The win marked his first in Europe, with his previous title coming in China at the 2015 WGC-HSBC Champions. • Knox’s win, which was the 137th victory by a Scotsman on the European Tour, was the first Scottish triumph in the Irish Open since Colin Montgomerie claimed the title in 2001. • In addition to earning a place in the top-10 on both the Race to Dubai and European Ryder Cup standings, the 33-year-old climbed into the top-50 of the world rankings, reaching No.49, having been 116th prior to his runner-up finish the week before the Irish Open at the Open de France.

“THAT’S WHY YOU PLAY GOLF, TO HOLE A PUTT LIKE THAT ON THE LAST HOLE. THE ADRENALINE JUST COMES OUT AND I MEAN, IT’S THE BEST FEELING IN THE WORLD” – RUSSELL KNOX