Coming home for a huge few days is a no-brainerforknox
Russell Knox hopes he can put all the pieces of his golfing jigsaw together as he flies in for the Scottish Open.
It will be a first appearance in his home Open since 2019 for the American-based Scot.
The difficulties of Covid kept him away for the last two years but, with the event now co- sanctioned between the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour, there was no chance of him missing this one.
Knox, who was born in Inverness, heads to Scotland, having slipped down to 80th on the Fedex Cup list after a disappointing run.
Since finishing in a tie for sixth at The Players’ Championship in March, close to his Jacksonville home, he has missed five of nine cuts.
But Russell is optimistic that playing on home soil could help him unlock what is needed to rediscover his best form.
“Since The Players, I have not done quite as well as I would have expected,” he said.
“I’ve not quite put it all together over four rounds. If my long game has been on, I’ve not putted well, and so on.
“But you have to believe in yourself. I trust my game, and it’s still all there. I still feel like I’m improving.
“Sometimes, you just need that spark, and you can get on a run that can last for a year or so.
“My name has not been around as much in the last couple of years, but I’ve kept my game at a respectable level.
“And if there was one event, other than a Major, that I would want to win the most, it would be the Scottish Open.”
With this 50th edition of the Scottish Open being the first to hold status on the PGA Tour, the top players are flocking to East Lothian.
Only Rory Mcilroy of the world’s top 15 will be missing from the field, giving the tournament a real gravitas.
And with it now counting on both sides of the Atlantic, Knox can’t wait to
get over and test himself in elite company.
“I always look forward to this event, but this year more so than ever,” he said. “I’ve not played in the last couple, but as a Scot living in the US, the chance to pick up points for both Tours means it’s perfect if you play well.
“Then there is the added carrot of The Open spots, which is a real kicker.
“With it this year being up the road at St Andrews, it’s really a no-brainer for guys to come over and play the Scottish Open.
It’s four years since Knox’s last victory at the Irish Open, while his best finish at his home Open was a tie for 10th in both 2015 and 2016.
Now he will try to improve on that at The Renaissance.
“I’ve never done really well there, but I do like it,” he said of the course. “It’s more of a modern links, and it has some beautiful holes.
“It gets a bit of a bad wrap at times, but there’s nothing wrong with it. In fact, it’s the perfect tune- up for a Major, because you won’t come away having been too beaten up by it.”