Opportunity for Knox at Birkdale despite struggles, insists Stewart

Don’t be surprised to see Russell Knox shake off his recent struggles to get himself in the mix in the 146th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. So says Duncan Stewart, Knox’s longtime friend, former Jacksonville University team-mate and World Cup partner. Knox, the Scottish No 1, heads into his third appearance in golf’s oldest major feeling

frustrated about his game, having seen a sticky spell continue as he missed the cut in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Dundonald Links.

The Invernesian said that he had reached a stage where he feels “lost” on the golf course, but, having had the chance to play a practice round with him in Ayrshire and also having dinner on Saturday night, Stewart is confident Knox can get back on song in Southport.

“It’s been great to see him and hopefully he can have a good week at the Open,” said Stewart after closing with rounds of 78 and 72 to fail in his bid to join him in the Claret Jug joust by missing out on one of the three spots up for offer through the Scottish Open. “He’s extremely frustrated at the moment. He knows himself that he’s a far better player than the results he’s getting just now, but it’s certainly not far away.

“It’s not like he’s hitting horrendous shots, it’s just golf being golf to him at the moment. It can be hard. When things are going your way you get the lucky bounce and when it’s not you get the bad break and that’s what’s happening to him at the moment.

“It’s the first down spell he’s had since he broke through and he knew that was always going to come. It’s just lasted longer than he would have wanted – but I think next week will suit him. He hits it so straight that if he can get off to a good start and build some momentum he can be in contention at the weekend.”

Knox will be part of a sevenstrong Scottish contingent in Lancashire after Stephen Gallacher also missed out on his last available route into the event. In the mix at halfway, the 42-year-old tumbled down the leaderboard following a 79 in Saturday’s awful conditions before bouncing back with a 10-shot improvement to finish his week. “I got a bit battered yesterday,” he said. “I can’t remember it being as tough as that apart from The Open (in 2011) at St George’s on the Saturday. That’s only twice I’ve ever played with rain gloves on just because you couldn’t hold the club. It’s a pity. One bad day in the wind and rain. That was all.”