SCOTLAND’S top-ranked player, Russell Knox, fears having to put most of his trust in a borrowed driver if he’s to secure a “bonus” top-three finish in the rain-affected Irish Open.
Knox was just one hole away from the clubhouse lead when a second storm halted play on the K Club course in County Kildare.
Knox was four under par through 15 holes when play was halted for some two hours and 20 minutes, and then on his return to the course he could not believe his good fortune as his approach shot over the River Liffey, running in front of the 16th green, ricocheted off rocks ahead of a birdie four.
The Scot then was staring at a 25-foot putt for birdie at the 17th when the players were again called from the course after another thunderclap.
“I had chunked a hybrid second shot into 16 and had written off the ball as going into the water,” he said. “It was one of those things as it was my second shot after a more than two-hour delay and maybe it was a little risky, but I thought, ‘I am not here to not go for the green’.
“I then had a 20-footer for eagle and only just missed the putt so to get a birdie there was a huge bonus. But with still a putt on 17 and the 18th hole to play, I am in a really good position and only four behind Rory [McIlroy], who I see still has five holes to complete.
“I have really hacked it all over the place today and haven’t played well at all, but I have managed to get up-and-down and make pars while I birdied 10 in the pouring rain. That was a huge bonus.”
Tournament host McIlroy had forged his way to a three-shot advantage over Masters champ-ion Danny Willett when play was halted for a second time at 6.24pm.
Knox arrived on a maiden visit to the Emerald Isle quickly questioning his decision after he had to don three layers of clothing, along with waterproofs, only to then crack the face of his driver on route to a shock 75.
It was the same Cleveland driver Knox used to capture last Nov- ember’s WGC–HSBC Champions event that also earned him a cool $1 million (£689,299) prize cheque. Fortunately, Knox managed to get a loan of a Ping driver from good friend and fellow Jacksonville resident David Lingmerth, of Sweden.
And Knox has taken a real liking to the driver, so much so he joked he may not return the club to Lingmerth, especially after storming back with a second-day 66.
However, after starting round three by hitting his opening tee shot 80 yards right off the tee, Knox is already looking forward to replacement drivers being on hand at this coming week’s BMW PGA Championship.
“I was pathetic the first day, brilliant on Friday, but not too great today,” he said. “This borrowed driver is behaving itself despite what happened off the first, so it hasn’t been all that bad. It’s not fit for me so I am manipulating it around the course but then it’s going to be difficult to trust this driver coming down the back nine.”
Fellow Scot Marc Warren, who was out in the last group and tied with Willett, had tumbled down the board to share seventh place at three under par through 12 holes, having dropped five shots.
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