Football’s not coming home ..golf could be

Knox tees himself up to be first Scots winner since ‘99

He started the week half asleep. Today it could end with the stuff of dreams.

Russell Knox has hobbled his way up and down the dunes of Gullane feeling every day of his 33 years and plenty more.

Running on empty af ter the physical and mental effort of finishing runner-up in France a fortnight ago then winning in Ireland last Sunday.

And let’s not beat about the Bushmills, there was almost certainly an element of hangover from the celebrations too given the brilliant video footage of him dancing and partying with the greenkeepers at Ballyliffin.

How many pros go out of their way to share the moment with the unsung heroes who’ve slogged their guts out for weeks to set the stage for them to star on?

In many ways you could look at the genuinely l ikeable way Knox conducts himsel f and declare him the model champion.

But today make that the dream winner.

For the crowds expected to nudge 16,000 heading for this picture-perfect stretch of East Lothian coastline have been holding out for a homegrown hero for years – 19 to be precise. That’s how long it is since Colin Montgomerie took the cheers at Loch Lomond as the last Scottish winner of this event. Our event. If Knox can add to the much-needed feelgood factor he has already injected into Scottish golf over these last two weeks with back-to-back triumphs, imagine what it would mean to these fans. And to Knox himself. He may never have a better chance to fulfil a boyhood ambition that stretches back to his early years in Inverness long before he emigrated to America on a scholarship at Jacksonville University. Just two adrift of leader Jens Dantorp and one off a six-strong chasing pack including 2015 Gullane winner Rickie Fowler and Ryan Fox – the guy Knox beat in a play-off in Donegal – he’s well placed.

After all, he came from much further back at Ballyliffin, starting the final round six shots adrift but ending a closing 66 in style by draining a 40-foot putt on the last to force a play- off.

Then incredibly he did the same again to beat bemused Aussie Fox.

After a 66 rocketed him to 11 under, Knox said: “Of course winning your home Open is a massive goal.

“Other than winning a Major this is right up there with the tournament you really want to win the most. It would be a dream come true. I’m obviously in a decent position and playing well, so I’m going to give it 100 per cent.

“I felt completely different today. I slept like a king – I had about 11 hours and ate a huge breakfast and lunch.

“The bread is good here so I had some lovely toast, poached eggs, bacon and a nice little fruit bowl. A nice mix but the toast and the bacon are where it’s at!

“I was ready to go today. For the first time this week I didn’t feel tired one bit and tomorrow will be the same, I’m sure, with a bit of adrenaline and the crowd cheering me on. I can’t wait.

“Obviously I still haven’t come down from winning in Ireland so winning Scotland too would be fun.

“But that’s a long way off yet. I have to hammer down and play my game and hope I’m able to beat everyone.”

And that will not be easy with the world-class standard of rivals vying for that title, a winner’s cheque of £ 877,000 and, for three top-10 f inishers not already exempt, a place at The Open.

Knox is already safely in that 156-man field for Carnoustie but leader Dantorp is not and neither are Scott Hend and Marcel Siem who sit one adrift of the 13-under pace set by the Swede.

Ryder Cup star Matt Fitzpatrick sits beside them on 12 under as marked man Dantorp strives to rack up his maiden main tour win after yesterday’s 68.

He said: “It will be a new experience but I’m really looking forward to it.”