RUSSELL KNOX admits he feels so at home at Sawgrass that he might as well be competing in the Scottish Open.
The Scot resides at Jocksonville Beach in Florida, just 10 minutes away from the Players Championship course at Ponte Vedra, and having spent more than a decade in the US, the world No.30 feels very much at home as he prepares for today's tee-off.
“Of course I was born in Scotland, but I have lived here in the area for well over 10 years and gone to college here, so this is very much like my second home," he said. “As well, knowing that any time I can come and play here at Sawgrass is a great bonus.
"So this week is very much like a Scottish Open for me and, while I dearly want to win at least one Scottish Open in my career, this week is like a second Scottish Open for me given, as I said, it is like home for me.”
This is Knox's fourth straight appearance in the event with a best of T17th two years ago, and he is hoping to use his familiarity with it to his advantage. However, after taking four hours in extremely humid conditions, Knox is now heeding Jim Furyk’s advice.
“I bumped into Jim earlier this week and we were talking about practice rounds," said Knox. "He said that last year when he came here he did not play one hole in practice until he teed up on the Thursday.
“So yesterday I stayed right away from here and played over at Pablo Creek where I am a member.
“But then I know this course so well and probably have played it about 75 times, and in a given year I would play it about five to seven times.
“I really like the changes they have introduced to the course, but this golf course is all about getting through a few tough holes."
However, it was the famed par-three island-green 17th that proved Knox’s downfall a year ago.
The Scot went into the third round just a few shots off the lead sharing sixth place, but got to 17 and proceeded to put three balls into the water in taking a nine on route to a horror 80 overall.
To his credit, Knox bounced back with a four the next day and, while he is still nervous about teeing up on 17, he says there is no lingering demons.
“Everyone is going to hit it in the water at 17 some time or another but I have no fears going back to play it," he said. “I am always going to be a bit nervous standing over the shot but then so is everyone out here, so what I did last year is not going to be last time I will hit in the water there.
“If does happen again I know one thing: I will be going to the drop zone rather than hit my third from the tee."
Joining Knox this week is fellow Scot Martin Laird, who is contesting the event for an eighth occasion having only missed one year since 2009.
However, Laird has missed the cut the past two years and is targetting playing all four rounds as a priority
“This is a great tournament and our biggest event of the year on the PGA Tour, and it very much has a Major feel about," he added. "I think it is every bit as big as a Major but without being a Major.
“I had a great finish in being second here in 2012 starting with a 65 and ending with a 67, so I’ve good some good memories of doing well around here. So I know what you have to do around here to play well.”
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