Scotland’s Russell Knox is eager to boost his Ryder Cup prospects with a strong showing at this week’s BMW PGA Championship.
The US-based 30-year-old won the WGC-HSBC Champions at the end of 2015, prompting him to take up Affiliate Membership in a bid to make Darren Clarke’s European team that will compete at Hazeltine.
Despite the points for the biggest win of his career not counting towards the standings, Knox has put himself in the frame with three-runner up finishes since then, most recently at last week’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation.
That saw Knox climb to 17th on the World Points list, from which the top six not already exempt from the European Points list will qualify automatically, and with 64 Official World Golf Ranking points available to the winner at Wentworth Club there is a chance to further progress this week.
“It's a huge goal now,” Knox said when asked about his Ryder Cup prospects. “After I won in China, it was realistic to make the team, but at the same time, there's still a lot to be done.
“Now I've finished second three times since that. To be honest, I expect to make the team now. If I keep playing the way I'm going, I think I can do it and I sure hope I do.
“Wherever I am in the points list, arguably I'm higher up because my win didn't count. But obviously Darren Clarke knows that, as well as all of you. It didn't count points-wise, so hopefully I'll make enough points to qualify automatically.”
Having spent the majority of his career playing on the US PGA Tour, Inverness-born Knox is enjoying a spell on his native side of the pond having pushed Rory McIlroy all the way at the K Club last weekend.
“It's great to be here,” he added. “I grew up watching this tournament. Obviously growing up in Scotland, I always dreamt of getting to play here.
“It seems like an amazing event. There's a lot going on. The bacon sandwiches are much better on The European Tour, that's for sure.
“Every time I've come over to play in Europe, it's been amazing. The fans are incredible, loads of crowds, just the weather is way worse.” - Russell Knox
On his current form, Knox added: “It's a simple game if you hit it where you're looking. So drive it in the fairway and try and make the putts.
“After 15 (holes in Ireland), I was one ahead, and I never thought I had the tournament obviously, because Rory is capable of anything, which he proved. The shot he hit into 16 was one of the best shots he'll probably ever hit, and definitely that I've ever seen.
“It was a bummer obviously for me, but at the same time, how can you not take a step back and say well done to Rory for that. He played the last three holes like a champion and he deserved to win because of it.”
