OPPORTUNITY KNOX!
Russell in Ryder frame after superb Irish win
After finishing second in 2016, when rory McIlroy pulled off two of the great shots of his career over the closing stretch, russell Knox knew only too well that astounding golf is invariably required to win the Dubai Duty free Irish Open.
On a tense and magical afternoon at Ballyliffin yesterday, Knox finally got his hands on the trophy following a finish of his own that was so spectacular it deserves to sit right alongside McIlroy’s prodigious efforts on any highlight reel. the 33-year- old Scot holed from 45 feet to force a play-off against luckless New Zealander ryan fox, and then found himself standing over an almost identical putt when they returned to the 18th for the first play-off hole.
‘I’ve already holed this one, so how hard can it be?’ Knox said to his caddie, James Williams.
With the vast majority of the 27,000 fans who made it to this remote corner of Donegal for the final day crammed around the green, there was a sense of disbelief as Knox, nervelessly, stroked his putt into the hole a second time.
It was hard not to feel for fox. He had played the hole immaculately but saw a 12-foot putt for a matching birdie cruelly horseshoe out.
‘It’s tough to describe how amazing this feels,’ Knox said, clutching the trophy proudly to his chest. ‘I can’t believe I’m holding this. When those putts go in, it’s why you play golf. All the bad moments, all the practice, all the hard knocks, they’re all taken care of with putts like that. I feel for ryan, but clearly it was my time.’
fox’s dad, Grant, one of the greatest All Black rugby players of all time, never knew many disappointing days himself but, watching back home in New Zealand, this must have been one of them.
Still, how proud he must be of his 31-yearold son, a wonderful ballstriker who plays the game with a speed that is so refreshing to watch. He surely won’t have to wait long for his maiden european tour win.
As for Knox, he missed out on the last ryder Cup in highly contentious circumstances, when he was overlooked by captain Darren Clarke for a wildcard despite being ranked 20th in the world, with only five europeans above him.
Knox made no secret of his bitter disappointment, and it appeared to linger during a desperate 18 months that saw him fall all the way to No 137 in the world after the Memorial tournament in Ohio at the end of May.
So when Knox arrived at the french Open, played over the ryder Cup course outside Paris i th the week kb before f l last, th he seemed to have no chance, therefore, of making this year’s ryder Cup team. But a top-12 finish at the US Open had clearly done wonders for his confidence, and he finished runner-up in france, his best finish since 2015.
Now, he heads into two big events in his homeland — the Scottish Open at Gullane that starts on thursday and the Open at Carnoustie the following week — as the man with momentum.
‘the ryder Cup is on my mind, obviously, and I know you need to win tournaments to have a chance of making it,’ he said. ‘this is a good start but I need to keep going.’
Six shots off the lead at the start of play yesterday, Knox eagled the par- five fourth, where h hi his fb fabulous l approach h finished eight feet from the flag. With overnight leader erik Van rooyen feeling the pressure, Knox moved into a three-way tie for the lead with fox and Spaniard Jorge Campillo — who set the clubhouse target with a brilliant 65 — following birdies at the 12th and 15th.
A fox birdie at the 17th, however, left Knox needing a special moment to join him on 14 under and force extra holes. Goodness, did he show his mettle, as he carded a 66.
‘I do fancy my chances at the Open, actually, but it’s time to enjoy this one,’ Knox said
Defending champion Jon rahm also shot a final-round 66 for tied fourth spot, while rory McIlroy’s 71 saw him tied in 28th place in his last start before Carnoustie.