KNOX HOPES TO RUSSELL UP MAJOR
Scottish golf fans could be forgiven for switching off their tellies whenever this year’s Majors roll around.
The Home of Golf has endured a 20-year drought in the sport’s biggest events, a barren spell which shows little sign of ending in the next campaign.
Paul Lawrie’s triumph in the 1999 Open at Carnoustie was the last highlight.
The closest any Scot has been to winning a Major in recent times was Colin Montgomerie at the 2006 U. S. Open at Winged Foot.
One year earlier, Monty finished a distant second to a rampant Tiger Woods at the 2005 Open Championship.
With the Masters the first Major of the new season, there seems precious little chance of a change in fortune at Augusta this time around.
There is just one Scot qualified and that is former Green Jacket winner Sandy Lyle, who will have turned 61 when the tournament gets under way on April 11.
If any Scot has a chance to step to the plate in 2019 it’s Floridabased Russell Knox.
Knox has picked up seven victories in his pro career.
He’s the current Irish Open champion, has won a WGC title and he’s won on the ‘regular’ PGA Tour in capturing the 2016 Travellers Championship.
That victory produced one of the best celebratory cap throws seen on a 72nd green. At No.68 in the World Rank ings K nox is embarrassingly the only Scot inside the top 100.
David Drysdale sits at No.188, Scott Jamieson is No. 194 and Martin Laird is No.210.
For all it looks like an uphill struggle next year, Knox is relishing the challenge.
He also appreciates the fact he’s still getting to do what he loves for a living.
Knox said: “I’ve had a good break since Dubai and I am really looking to another busy year.
“The great thing is that I head into another new year playing golf for a living.
“For me it’s such an honour to get to play golf for a living.”
Knox already has his schedule mapped out for the season, although he already has designs on a few changes for the 2020 campaign.
He said: “I will start out in Hawai i again where I have been starting my new year now since 2012 .
“In saying that it would be nice this coming week to be going back to Kapalua for the Tournament of Champions but then a win in 2019 will take care of that for 2020.
“Of course, the Majors and WGC events will again be my main focus.
“At this stage, I’m exempt into the PGA Championship and The Open but you want to be playing in all four and that’s my big goal this coming year. Hopefully also we can see a Scot being handed a Major Championship trophy.”