Knox goes from viral fame to dramatic play-off victory
Scot shrugs off comical video to win Irish Open Performance puts him in Ryder Cup reckoning
After going viral on the internet earlier in the week for his hilarious inability to dispose of an apple core, Russell Knox proved that his aim is unerringly true with a putter as he sank back-to-back 40-footers on the 18th green at Ballyliffin to win the Irish Open.
Social media will always show that in Friday’s second round, the 33-year-old from Inverness failed epically to throw away the core.
Instead of tossing it into the rough by the third green, Knox somehow tossed it over his shoulder and almost hit playing partner Alex Bjork. “But I holed the putt straight afterwards,” Knox said.
It was this radar-like competence with the flat-stick which every observer should have noted as Knox went on to end his own drought – as well as that of his country – to thrust himself into contention for the Ryder Cup.
On the last hole of regulation, he knew he needed to convert his long effort for a birdie for a 66 and a 14-under total if he was to have any chance. It duly dropped and when, 15 minutes later, Kiwi Ryan Fox missed a 10-footer for a three, it went to sudden death.
On the first extra hole, from almost the same position on the 18th green, Knox holed out again and his two-year barren run was forgotten – and to everyone in Scottish golf, at least, so was the apple.
This was the nation’s first win on the European Tour in three years, the longest they have gone without silverware since the circuit was officially formed in 1972. Indeed, this was Scotland’s first male winner on a major tour since Knox clinched the Travelers Championship in 2016. His huge fist-pump said it all.
“All the bad moments are taken care of with putts like that,” Knox said. “On that last putt, I said to Ramon [Bescansa, who doubles up as Knox’s caddie and putting coach], ‘I’ve already made this putt, so it can’t be too difficult’.”
Two years ago, Knox was controversially overlooked for a wild card by Darren Clarke. His fourth professional win hauls him back into the world’s top 50 and gives current Europe captain Thomas Bjorn plenty to consider.
Elsewhere, Kevin Na won the second victory of his PGA Tour career yesterday, with victory at A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier. Na, whose only other win on Tour came in 2011, closed with a six-under 64 to finish 19 under for the week.