Russell: I need wife to be BARK’N MAD AGAIN
Russell Knox admits he’s relying on his one- time tennis pro wife serving up a rebuke after a miserable finish grounded his Turkish Airlines Open bid.
The Scot found himself pushed back well into economy class after racking up 17 bogey-free holes only to find water off the final tee.
A double-bogey six saw him sign for a two-under 69, with the 33-yearold nine shots off leader Li Haotong going into the final 18 holes.
Knox had singled out a pep talk from wife Andrea – a former professional on the tennis circuit – and her sister after his opening 70 as the push that saw him produce a 66 on day two in Antalya.
He said: “I am going to need Andrea and Maria getting me sorted out as I blinkin’ need it.
“The last hole just sucked. I have to start feeling better over a shot like that at the last.
“I have 70 yards wide of grass to hit my tee shot and it’s no excuse to miss that left like I did.
“I played all right and to be honest it could have been a lot worse. I almost hit in the water on nine and 10 and made a miracle up-and-down on five. I wedged well and overall it probably looked better than it was.
“If I had put a decent swing on my drive there at the last I could have made par and walked away with a bogey-free four- under and looked pretty good.
“My tee shot at 18 almost landed on the 17th and I have to do a better job than that. It was just hopeless.”
While Knox’s day unravelled at the last, defending champion Justin Rose almost drowned his bid to return to the top of the world rankings.
Rose began the third round with a two-shot lead but ended it three behind Li after hitting three balls into the water in the space of nine holes in an untidy 69.
Li’s flawless 63, which included an eagle and six birdies in the first 12 holes, took the 23-year-old to 17 under with a three-shot lead over Rose and France’s Alexander Levy.
Rose, who will replace Brooks Koepka as world No.1 if he can make his f irst successful title defence, said: “I struggled with my focus and concentration and made a couple of questionable decisions.
“It was maybe a little bit of tiredness at the end of a long season so I have to make sure I come out on Sunday more focused. Three balls in the water and I still shot 69 so there’s some good stuff still happening.
“It was a bit of a disappointing finish but there is so much golf to be played and I am not too fussed about the position I’m in. “Being three shots back you have to put your foot down and go for it. “It does not mean reckless aggression but you have to pick your moments to be aggressive.” Scotland’s golfing stock got a boost last night with four players – Grant Forrest, Liam Johnston, Robert MacIntyre and David Law – earning full European Tour membership. The four were among the leading 15 on the season’s money list after the Ras Al Khaimah Cha l lenge Tour Grand Final in UAE.