He couldn’t could he? If Russell Knox wins the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open at Gullane today, he will probably get carried to Carnoustie for this week’s Open on a sedan chair. The way he is playing just now, though, he could probably walk across the water to Angus.

On the back of his thrilling victory in Ireland a week ago, the 33-year-old Scot thrust himself into the frame for a shimmering double whammy of lucrative Rolex Series wins. He will win more than a watch if he knocks this one off.

A robust four-under 66 for an 11-under 199 left him perfectly poised to pounce, just two strokes behind Swedish leader Jens Dantorp and one behind a posse which includes the 2015 Gullane winner Rickie Fowler and Ryan Fox, the New Zealander whom Knox beat in a play-off in Ireland seven days ago.

There hasn’t been a Scottish winner of the Scottish Open since Colin Montgomerie in 1999. And even that victory comes with a caveat. The event wasn’t actually called the Scottish Open then.

It was the Standard Life Loch Lomond as the tournament went through a variety of facelifts usually reserved for ageing celebs. But let’s not get bogged down in the detail. We will take a Scottish winner on Scottish soil whatever the event is called.

With the leading group not teeing off until 3.50pm to suit pesky US television, this was going to be a long day for everybody.

The answers were blowing in the wind over the sun-soaked East Lothian links. Or was it just a few awkward questions? The change in direction of those gusts meant an altogether different challenge that teased and tormented.

The front nine had been battered by a blaze of birdies over the first two days but it was a different kettle of fish yesterday as the inward half became the place to reap a rich harvest.

On the 10th, for instance, Fowler clattered a downhill drive some 458 yards. He still missed the green with his short pitch, mind you. Fox showed what could be achieved, though, as he conjured three birdies and an eagle on his last six holes in a 63 to barge his way up the order.

Knox, meanwhile, had made a slow start with a bogey on the seventh but a good birdie putt on the next provided the catalyst for a surging advance. Between the 11th and the 16th, he reeled off four birdies as he manoeuvred himself into a menacing position.

“Gullane was showing its teeth,” admitted Knox as he evaluated the challenge that was presented. “On the first hole the other day I hit a 5-wood and a lob wedge into the green. Today, it was a driver and 6-iron.”

Knox stated that he “hasn’t come down from winning in Ireland” but over the first two days he did admit to be running on fumes. He had refuelled at the pumps by the time he teed-off yesterday, however.

“I slept like a king for something like 11 hours and ate a huge breakfast and lunch.”

Having finished in a share of second in France the week before his win in Ireland, Knox is playing some of his best golf. After a run of three missed cuts in four events during April and May, a rummage in the equipment archives for an old putter he used to employ has paid dividends.

“I used the same model in my rookie year on tour in 2012 and obviously it stopped working,” he said. “But it came back and I don’t know what prompted me to do it but I brought it out again at the Byron Nelson event [in May] and it’s proving to be a great decision. I have a room full of crap and it was tucked back in the cobwebs.”

Knox almost spoiled Rory McIlroy’s homecoming in the Irish Open two years ago when the Scot harried him all the way before finishing second.

He is hoping the local galleries can bolster his own assault here in Scotland.

“If it’s me versus someone who’s not Scottish then I sure hope they root for me,” said Knox.

Ahead of him, Dantorp mounted a telling late thrust to burst his way out of the log-jam and seize the lead by himself. The Swede upped the ante on the closing stretch and birdied his final three holes in a 68 to move on to the 13-under tally.

Fox’s 63 was matched by Australia’s Scott Hend while Matt Fitzpatrick shot a 64 to join the large battalion on the 12-under mark.

Justin Rose, the Scottish Open winner at Royal Aberdeen in 2014, is lurking ominously and is just three shots back on 10-under while Stephen Gallacher’s 65 hoisted him to nine-under and into the picture.

It was a bad day for overnight leader Robert Rock, though, as his title tilt was blown off course.

The 41-year-old had not dropped a shot in 36 holes but a bogey on the first set the tone for a ruinous afternoon and he trudged in with a 76 to plummet down to 40th on seven-under.