Knox denied dream double

Inverness golfer misses second win as Northern Ireland’s McDowell takes play-off

Inverness golfer Russell Knox was left to rue awayward drive on the 18th hole as he let the chance of successive victories slip from his grasp yesterday.

The 30-year-old, who won the HSBC Champions event in Shanghai last week, was aiming to become the first Scot to win consecutive PGA Tour titles since Sandy Lyle won the Greensboro Open and the USMasters in 1988 as he took a one-shot lead down the last in the OHL Classic at Playa del Carmen in Mexico which went into a fifth day yesterday after rain delays.

But a poor drive, which found the bunker, forced Knox to hit his approach short to the edge of the green. He was short again with his pitch on to the green where he double-putted for a bogey, forcing a play-off against Graeme McDowell and American Jason Bohn.

It was Northern Irishman McDowell who emerged victorious thanks to a stunning second shot to the green on the first extra hole, which ended just three feet from the flag.

With Knox having to settle for a par and Bohn missing his birdie chance, McDowell’s birdie was enough to give him his first win on the PGATour in two years.

Knox’s consolation was a joint second place finish alongside Bohn and a runners-up prize of £359,000 which takes him to the top of the FedEx Cup rankings, but the Highlander knows he let a second win in eight days get away.

He said: “It was unfortunate to hit a bad drive on 18 as it ultimately costme the tournament.

“I just had to hit a good drive, and I’d definitely have had a putt to win the tournament. I just wasn’t able to hit a good one.

“I hit a great second shot on my last hole, but I’ve got to get the ball up and down there to win. Because I didn’t do it, I didn’t deserve to get the win.”

Knox, who was playing for the fifth successive week, had joked on Sunday a Monday finish would lead to him sleeping for a week as he was “running on fumes” when trying to close out victory.

While pleased with his performance across the five days, he was left to rue a missed opportunity.

He said: “I was thrilled to have played this well. I didn’t expect it. But I was right there and I should have got it done.”

“I was thrilled to have played this well. I didn’t expect it. But I was right there and I should have got it done”

SO CLOSE: Inverness golfer Russell Knox was left to reflect on what might have been in Mexico yesterday as his title bid came up just short