Russell Knox nicknamed himself “The Beast” after playing two good rounds at the Travelers Championship.
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Russell Knox sank a 12-foot par putt at the final hole to win the Travelers Championship in CT by one shot on Sunday, moving the Scot into contention for a place on the European team at next month’s Ryder Cup.
“I dominated him, I guarantee he very quickly would change places with me”, Knox joked after his final round 68.
The Travelers Championship pretty much had the spotlight to itself with the European and LPGA Tour getting the week off as a number of golfers headed to Rio for the 2016 Olympic summer games. “Were always going to be judged by major championship wins and tournament wins, and I still feel that’s the most important thing out here … you live to compete and try to win golf tournaments”.
“That’s a putt I’ll remember forever”, he said. “I could have ripped my shirt off”.
On a day when the lead at TPC River Highlands was a poison potato, it seemed inevitable that Knox, one up on Kelly with one hole to play, would manage to blow up. He did that during the second round of the BMW Championship in 2013. Kelly was second at 13-under 267 after shooting 6-under 64 on Sunday. By the 18th hole, everyone in attendance wanted to witness Furyk’s par finish to a 12-under round that left him at 11-under overall.
Furyk, the 2003 U.S. Open champion and victor of 17 Tour events, said the 58 had to be put into the context of the ultimate goal on the Tour – winning.
A bogey after narrowly avoiding the water on the 16th cut the gap to one and when Knox found sand with his approach to the last, Kelly – who had fired a 64 – had increased hopes of a play-off.
The 31-year-old Scot landed his tee shot in the rough 184 yards out, following that with his hitting his second shot into the sand trap. He didn’t tear his shirt off, but did send his hat flying in celebration. I’m not saying everyone can win a tournament. “I’m glad it went in”.
Justin Thomas was nearly an afterthought despite shooting a 62 and stringing together five straight birdies to close out the front nine.
Rodgers shot a 2-under 68.
Bryce Molder (Conway) shot a 2-over 72 in the final round and finished in a tie for 56th at 3 under.
Furyk was born May 12, 1970, is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour.
The 46-year-old American bounced in an eagle from 135 yards on his third hole, ran off seven straight birdies around the turn and picked up his final birdie on the 16th hole with a putt from just inside 24 feet.
He rolled in a short par putt on the final hole, thrust his arms in the air and waved his cap to salute thousands of fans who had rushed to the amphitheater around the 18th green to catch a stunning slice of history.
Leishman (270), the 36-hole co-leader with Berger, Russell Henley and Van Aswegen, closed with a 66 to tie for ninth with Brooks Koepka.
He two-putted on the 18th green after setting the nine-hole record with an eight-under 27.
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The PGA Tour now heads to Silvis in IL for the rescheduled John Deere Classic. I’ve played it many times. He last won at the 2015 RBC Heritage. He parred two of the usual birdie holes on the course, the par-five 13th and the driveable par-four 15th, where a 7-foot putt lipped out. Mike Grob (Arkansas Razorbacks) tied for 17th at 10 under and won $22,641, while John Daly (Dardanelle, Razorbacks) shot a 3-over 75 to push him down to a tie for 71st which was enough to earn $1,382.
