Scots star Russell Knox today admitted he didn’t deserve to win the PGA Tour’s rain-delayed OHL Classic in Mexico after allowing a second successive Tour triumph to slip from his grasp.
The Inverness ace, who made his breakthrough on the global stage with a stunning success in the WGC HSBC Champions event just over a week ago, was a par-four away from becoming the first Scot since Sandy Lyle in 1988 to claim back-to-back PGA Tour triumphs.
Knox came to the 18th tee holding a one shot lead over former US Open champ Graeme McDowell, who was already in the clubhouse with an 18-under score.
But the Scot found the fairway bunker with his drive and could only smack a second shot short of the green. Needing to get up-and-down to win, Knox left himself with a 15-footer to save par and when he failed to convert the putt, he dropped into a sudden-death shoot-out with McDowell and Jason Bohn.
McDowell showed his class at the first play-off hole and flighted a superb 5-iron into a couple of feet while Knox pulled his approach wide of the green.
Knox, 30, said: “I was thrilled to have played this well as I didn’t expect it, to be honest but I was right there, I should have got it done.
“It was unfortunate to hit a bad drive (on the 18th), since ultimately it cost me the tournament. I’ve just got to hit a good drive, and I’ll definitely have a putt to win the tournament. I just wasn’t able to hit a good one. I hit a great second shot, but I’ve got to get the ball up and down there to win. Because I didn’t, I don’t deserve it.”
For McDowell, meanwhile, it was a much needed victory and a welcome return to form. Without a win since the French Open 16 months ago, McDowell had slithered down to 85th in the world rankings after recording just one top-10 finish in 25 events this year.
He said: "It really gives me something to grab onto. You go through a year like this and you think 'am I finished? Am I good enough?'
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