Knox takes fight to Matsuyama in bid to defend Shanghai title

RUSSELL KNOX has vowed to adopt an aggressive approach as he aims to overhaul Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and make a successful title defence in the HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

The Scot trails the in-form Matsuyama by three shots heading into the final round in China as he attempts to become only the second player after Tiger Woods to retain a World Golf Championships title.

Matsuyama, who is a career-high 10th in the world after winning the Japan Open a fortnight ago and finishing second in Malaysia last week, carded a bogey-free third round 68 to finish 17 under par, with Knox carding five birdies and one bogey in his 68.

American Daniel Berger is a shot behind Knox after a third round of 67, with Italy’s Francesco Molinari and American Bill Haas another stroke adrift on 12 under.

‘I’m not going to give up my title without a big fight,’ said Knox.

‘The way Hideki played today, he’s probably going to play similar tomorrow. I’m going to have to be aggressive and try to catch him.

‘I’ll probably have to play close to the round of my life. It’s going to be difficult but I can’t wait for it.’

Knox, who was inches away from a hole-in-one on the fourth, was two behind Matsuyama when he picked up another shot on the 13th, only to find water with his approach to the parfive 14th as Matsuyama hit the green in two.

A two or three-shot swing looked certain and Matsuyama duly two-putted from long range for birdie, but Knox holed from 25 feet for an unlikely par and birdied the next.

‘After hitting it in the water on 14, to make a massive putt for par was huge,’ added the 31-year-old from Inverness (pictured).

‘And then I birdied the next, which was a massive momentum change. Those little moments are what add up in a tournament.’

Matsuyama birdied the closing hole to extend his lead as he looks to become the first Japanese player to win a WGC event.