RUSSELL KNOX has told Thomas Bjorn not to worry about the Scot satisfying European Tour membership in order to qualify for the 2018 Ryder Cup.
Bjorn, who will captain Europe when the tournament takes place in France next year, stated last week that every European-born player should become a member of the European tour 'so we can get the best possible team'.
Bjorn's singled out the likes of Paul Casey, Carl Petersson, Alex Cejka and Knox as he warned that the eight spots could go to anyone come selection time.
Last year, Knox won twice in the European Ryder Cup qualifying period and while he fell short of automatically qualifying, the 31-year-old was overlooked in favour of struggling Lee Westwood as one of Darren Clarke’s three wildcard picks.
Although Knox will not be seen competing this year on the European continent till the July 6th staring Irish Open, an event he finished runner-up in to host Rory McIlroy last May at the K. Club, he has assured Bjorn there will be no such concern about the Scot’s goal once 2018 Ryder Cup qualifying gets underway later this year.
"I read what Thomas had to say last week in Dubai and I’ve read up on the changes the Tour has made with regards to qualifying," he said.
"The fact that the Europeans being based in the US will now only have to play four regular European Tour events will make it a little easier.
"They are good changes and even though the minimum is four events there will be guys, myself included, who will probably ending playing more than the four," Knox added.
"Those changes should help the European Ryder Cup team going forward.
"But for the time being, for me, it’s all about continuing to try and get that little bit better and continuing to put myself in position to have a chance of winning.
While Knox remains disappointed about how last year turned out for him, he says there is a distinct advantage this year as a result.
He said: "The good thing now going forward is that I am starting to go back to venues that last year were a stranger to me, so I am now playing courses for a second time.
"Now I know what courses I really enjoy playing and I have ruled out going to others that simply didn’t suit my game.
"It’s tough going to a tournament that you feel as though it’s going to be pretty hard to win, whereas if you like the golf course and you’ve done well in the past then you feel like you can win the tournament.”
Knox will return to competition for the Honda Classic in Florida which starts on February 23rd, a competition the Scot lost out in to a play-off three years ago against American Russell Henley.
Meanwhile, Martin Laird will look to put last week's Phoenix Open heartache behind him when he tees-off in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am tomorrow afternoon. Laird will begin his quest for a fourth PGA Tour title at 4.44pm (UK time) on the Monterey Peninsula course and one of three host venues.
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