Troon’s school of hard Knox

Russell Knox cursed the two bogey holes that have jinxed his chances of mounting a challenge for the Claret Jug.

The Inverness man might be the top-ranked Scot this week on four-over par but he reckons he’d be a lot higher up the pecking order if he could just get a grip of the second and 17th holes.

Knox, who signed for a frustrating 75 yesterday, groaned: “I’m four-over for number two and three-over for number 17 so if you take those holes out then I’m under par.

“I’ve not got off to a good start all week.

“I’ve played number two, 11 and 17 extremely badly.

“I got away with pars on 11 the first two days and then it got its revenge with a double.”

The US-based Scottish star added: “It was tough as the wind was very tricky. But it was doable.

“I just wasn’t able to get any momentum going. There were a lot of good moments, like when I hit an unbelievable shot into 15 to about three feet – and then missed!”

That’s not nearly as painful as Colin Montgomerie’s round of 79, a score that cast him adrift at the bottom on 12-over par.

He’ll be out first in the morning for what is likely to be his farewell Open appearance on his home course.

Monty was too angry to speak after his round and former Open Champion Paul Lawrie was left frustrated too after a second consecutive 74 for seven-over par.

The Aberdonian tweeted later: “Three over today, which is about where my game is at the moment.

“I’m hitting it ok but holing very little.”