I don’t know about you, but watching the Olympics so far has been a bit like sitting through the harrowing beach scenes during the opening 20 minutes of Saving Private Ryan. Look, over there, it’s a vaulter snapping his leg in two. Peer down there, it’s a gymnast landing on her head and just about breaking her neck. And what’s that chaos over yonder? Why, it’s a mangled pile up in the cycling road race.
Traumatised by such ghastly episodes of wincing carnage in the name of athletic endeavour, this scribe half expected to tune into the fencing the other night just in time to see an eye ball of the vanquished being held aloft in triumph on the pointy end of an epee. In fact, there’s probably footage of that actually happening somewhere on the BBC red button in high-definition, slow-motion, ghoulish-vision.
It’s been hands over the eyes stuff. Rather like watching Russell Knox battle his way to victory in the PGA Tour’s Traveler’s Championship on Sunday night.
Talk about being put through the wringer. As Knox made his way down the stretch, you just about had to phone the upholsterer to come and fix the edge of the seat. Flirtations with the water, a dropped shot at 16, a trip into the bunker on the last and then a nerveless 12-footer for par which sparked joyous scenes. It was a nail-nibbling finale but one which simply highlighted Knox's talent, resolve and fierce competitive instinct.
The celebrations which followed the sealing of his second PGA Tour win of the season looked a bit like the bowler-hat throwing Oddjob in Goldfinger as Knox thundered his bunnet across the green.
The Scot certainly had the golden touch at the weekend. And it’s brought him to within touching distance of that little gold chalice that is the Ryder Cup. The opportunity is certainly knocking.
Now up to 18th in the world – there are only five European players ahead of him on the global pecking order – the Inverness exile has given Darren Clarke, the captain of Team Europe, plenty to ponder. And he should be pondering Knox.
The 31-year-old’s win has vaulted him up to 10th on the world points list for qualifying, just six points behind Matt Fitzpatrick who occupies the ninth and final automatic spot for Hazeltine. Knox could still barge his way into that place but, if not, then he’s certainly stuck in a sturdy application for a wild card.
When it comes to rookies and the Ryder Cup, everybody seems to get all hot, bothered and worried that there will be too many raw recruits in the team. Experience is key they wail, which often means the selection process can almost become something of an old boys’ network of nod-and-a-wink customs as picks are drafted in with their laurels from cups gone by. Yes, a history of exposure to the fraught frontline of Ryder Cup combat is a major weapon in a player’s armoury but what happens when those weapons are misfiring?
If the Ryder Cup qualifying ended today, five of the nine automatic places would be taken up by rookies. But then, you have to have a changing of the guard at some point. With three captain’s picks, the smart money is on Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer but the third one will continue to provoke much head-scratching. Graeme McDowell and Francesco Molinari both have past Ryder Cup experience but their current form is hardly riveting while Shane Lowry has gone off the boil like a malfunctioning tea urn of late.
Knox is the man who is finding the momentum at the right time and is surely the strongest candidate. Forget all the caution and concern about wet behind the ears rookies. Knox is now a truly global campaigner who has won twice in the same wraparound season on the toughest tour in the world. He knows what competition on American soil is all about and, unlike many of his Scottish compatriots, he has an unwavering belief in his own ability which continues to be backed up by results. There’s no arrogance, just a quiet drive and a determination to make it to the very top. And if passion, pride and fire in the belly is what you’re after, then look no further than Knox’s hat-flinging celebration. Now, that would probably go down well amid the tumult of a raucous Ryder Cup. Darren Clarke, it’s over to you.
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