Knox has Lahiri firmly in sight in Malaysia
RUSSELL KNOX produced a solid, if unspectacular, third round yesterday to remain in contention at the CIMB Classic in Malaysia.
Scotland’s world No. 20 carded a fourunder 68 to end the day in a tie for second with defending champion Justin Thomas, but with four strokes to make up on leader Anirban Lahiri.
Chasing his firstever PGA Tour title, Lahiri scorched around TPC Kuala Lumpur with nine birdies in a round of 65 which left him 19-under-par for the tournament.
Knox had gone even better on Friday, when his 63 thrust him into contention for a third PGA Tour title, but the 31-year-old admitted he was forced to struggle in a third round that saw him card five birdies and a bogey.
“I didn’t feel great over the ball. So it was a bit of a struggle. My body just didn’t feel as good as yesterday,” Knox said.
“This is a course where you’ve got to play great on the last day to win because there’s going to be people that do it. I need to be super aggressive tomorrow.”
Lahiri is the reigning Asian Tour No. 1 and made his move late in the round with four birdies in his final five holes.
The 29-year-old will therefore begin the final round in pole position to become just the second Indian, after Arjun Atwal, to win on the PGA Tour.
“I just need to focus on what I need to do,” he said.
“I feel I’m in a good place mentally and physically and with my game, so that’s exactly where you want to be going into tomorrow.
“I’m not going to think much about where I am, but just think about what I need to do.”
American Thomas saved his round, and kept alive his title defence, with five consecutive birdies in as many holes to finish the round, after he had been four-over for the day.
“It was really just terrible golf for the first 13 holes,” he said.
“It was a very weird feeling. I just put myself so far behind the eight-ball. It was great to have that finish. I gave myself a chance.”