Knox sure water torture is perfect preparation for horrors of Oakmont
‘Golf is a game that punches you in the face over and over and over and over again. The people who do well are those who can take the punches — and deliver the odd one back.’
THE WORDS come from Russell Knox. And, though he may have been speaking specifically about his recent aquatic-themed embarrassment on the infamous 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass, it’s a quote that could be printed in 12-foot high bold letters and affixed above the entrance at Oakmont Country Club this week.
Not that any of the world’s best golfers descending upon the course just outside Pittsburgh will need much more in the way of advanced warning. Anyone who signs up to play in a US Open knows exactly what to expect.
In short, the USGA love nothing more than to dish out cruel and unusual punishment to the field, apparently taking great delight in seeing hardened competitors — men of serious mental and even physical strength, in this Age of the Gym Rat — left hollowed out and broken. At the end of their first practice round.
Scotland’s Knox, competing in just his second US Open, has at least shown the kind of resilience needed not to be completely shattered by the odd beating. His reaction to a crazy nine — that’s nine — on one of the world’s most famous par-three holes during last month’s Players Championship showed us that.
Laughing as he recalled putting three balls in the water before finally pitching on to the island green, then celebrating with the beered-up, stadium-style crowd when at last hitting the target, before raising his arms in triumph after putting out to avoid double digits, the 30-year-old came up with the above quote.
Explaining his attitude, without wishing to pretend that he wasn’t hurting during what seemed like hours of anguish, Knox said: ‘You lose almost every week. That’s golf.
‘It was one of those really unfortunate things that happened to me there. I guess you don’t know how you’re going to react until it happens. I decided to look on the funny side rather than the depressing side. Which I guess is a good thing.
‘It will make me stronger. I played 71 holes of excellent golf in that tournament. A par on that hole and, I believe, I would have finished second.
‘So I know how well I played. It was just one of those things. I probably should have gone to the drop zone after my first shot went into the water. I didn’t do that and it cost me a few more. I will learn from that. And I hopefully won’t do that again — because it really is a horrible feeling.
‘Everyone’s had those moments. I’ve double-bogeyed the last hole to lose the tournament before on tour. We’ve all been through tough times and had good times. That’s part of being a pro, just getting on with it and hopefully next time it will be better.
‘Does my reaction show that I have what it takes for Oakmont? The US Open is one of those tournaments where you have to change your attitude. Where at other times, two, three or four under means you might be playing really well, on a US Open course one or two over might be a great score.
‘More disciplined players tend to win that type of tournament. It’s hard to get it into your head that you’re maybe four or five over par and you’re really not doing that badly. That’s one thing I have to really prepare for.
‘I have never been to Oakmont but I have heard a lot of horror stories about how difficult the course is. The greens are meant to be sloped and super-fast. And it is meant to be very penal off the tee.
‘Jim Furyk and Matt Kuchar were having a conversation about it and I tried to get in on that. They said the fairway bunkers are extremely penal. If you drive it in one of those, you are more than likely just hacking it out. It is similar to a pot bunker in links golf.
‘I know the golf course is going to be brutally difficult but that’s quite right. It is the US Open, it needs to be difficult. That is why it produces the best winners.’ Knox made his Open Championship debut at the Home of Golf itself last year, although the wash-out weather that lashed the Old Course — forcing a Monday finish — put a dampener on his experience, as did his own poor golf.
Since then, he’s made his Masters debut, missing the cut but enjoying Augusta. Out of five Major appearances, in fact, the only time he has made the cut was at the US Open in 2013, where Justin Rose famously won the tournament with a cumulative total of one over par.
With a World Golf Championship title now on his CV, the Scot is certainly beginning to feel that he belongs among the very elite, saying: ‘The majors I’ve played in so far… they’re the tournaments you want to be playing in.
‘There are more people watching, the courses are unbelievable, the condition of them is incredible. The Masters was incredible to play. The Open was a disappointment for me. Getting to play in my first one at St Andrews and playing poorly was really tough.
‘That wasn’t really what I expected. It’s a shame the weather was so bad that week, which dampened everyone’s spirits. But all the majors are great and I look forward to them.
‘I have played in five majors and made the cut in one. That was my first one, the US Open in Merion.
‘One thing I have struggled with is the practice days. I have tended to get there too early and play too much from Monday to Wednesday. In the majors so far, I have been slightly tired before I tee up on the Thursday.
‘It is difficult because you are so excited to play in the majors. It is such a buzz when you get there and you feel like you should be on the course all the time.
‘I think there is a fine line between being over-prepared and too tired. That is going to be key for me.
‘When I won the WGC event in China, I had only played the course once before Thursday. Maybe my magic formula is: less is more.’
Declaring himself ‘absolutely disappointed’ that he will be the only Scot in the field at Oakmont, Knox actually sounds confident of being joined inside the world’s top 50 — he’s ranked 24th — by a few compatriots in the coming months.
Here’s hoping he’s right on that front. A sport that bashes you in the face repeatedly? Scotland
should produce world-class exponents by the score.