Russell Knox starts well at Memorial

• Russell Knox off to a flyer at the Memorial Tournament
• Shoots six-under-par, tied for third and two off the lead
• Martin Laird level par while Bradley Neil is three-over

Scotland’s Russell Knox got off to a strong start in the first round of the Memorial Tournament and said it’s ‘a dream come true’ to just even be able to compete at the Jack Nicklaus-hosted event.

The 29-year-old shot a six-under-par round of 66 to sit in a tie for third with Jason Dufner after round one, two shots behind co-leaders Bo Van Pelt and last year’s champion Hideki Matsuyama.

Starting on the tenth hole, the Scot was three-under at the turn and recorded four more birdies on the front nine – including three in a row from the sixth to the eighth – to get to seven-under before his only blemish of the day on the par-4 ninth.

“It was about as perfect as you could ever play” – Russell Knox

“I took my medicine on the last hole,” Russell Knox explained. “I had a bad tee shot and could have tried the heroic shot but I realised that five is better than six and I’m thrilled with six-under.

“It was very humid and the only tough thing was that my hands were sweating every hole. But the ball was going for miles and it was about as perfect as you could ever play.”

Nicklaus spoke in the lead up to the event about his love of Scotland and, in particular St Andrews, and Knox hopes to greeting the 18-time major champion as the winner come Sunday night.

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“He’s a legend, the best of all time,” said Russell Knox. “For me and all of us getting to come to his course here is a dream come true and playing well is even nicer. Hopefully I can keep it going and be there on Sunday shaking his hand.”

Elsewhere, Martin Laird shot a level par 72, while British Amateur champion Bradley Neil finished three-over-par as he continues his preparations for his maiden US Open appearance in two weeks’ time.

Russell Knox :: Memorial winner?

Early days, but can Knox grab his first PGA Tour win this week? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.