The PGA Tour campaign is only into March but, after just 10 events, Russell Knox can already mark down 2014 as the best of his seven-year professional career.
The 28-year-old from Inverness has made an outstanding start, narrowly missing out on his maiden tour title on Sunday after losing in a four man play-off for the Honda Classic title at Palm Beach in Florida.
American Russell Henley pipped Knox, Ryan Palmer and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy to the title in sudden death and, while McIlroy was left wondering how long it would take him to recover from not closing out a commanding lead in the tournament after opening with a devastating 63, Knox was a picture of satisfaction.
The former Jacksonville University student, who turned pro in 2007 after gaining his degree in business management, banked £267,759 for his week’s work, easily the best payday in his career, and his winnings took his tally for the season so far to £522,000.
While McIlroy left the course thinking he could and should have won, Knox was more interested in the positives he could take from his performance during the week.
More importantly, he is determined to use the experience for when the situation arises again and he is in the home straight on a Sunday afternoon.
He said: “I almost did it but, most importantly, I found out I can.
“No player can control if they win or not. It’s that simple. All it takes is one guy to beat you by one shot and so I’m very happy with my finish.
“Obviously I wish I would have won, but the way I felt coming down the last few holes was something which I know I won’t forget and when given the chance again maybe it will be my turn.”
It is not the money which is driving the Scot on to become a player to be reckoned with across the Atlantic, it’s the hunger for success.
The first PGA Tour trophy still eludes him but the wait for an elusive first win on the tour appears to be nearing an end.
Knox has learned to be patient. He played on the Hooters Tour from 2008-10 before graduating to the Nationwide Tour where a 12th place finish in the standings gave him entry to selected PGA Tour events.
A 20th-place finish on the Web.com Tour finals last year has given the Scot full playing rights on the main tour in 2014 and his schooling Stateside appears to be paying off.
Knox said: “Golf is golf on any tour and it took me a while to convince myself of that. If you are going to play well in a tournament it’s just you playing the course, no matter what stage it is.
“You just have to be patient and if you are good enough, good things will happen.
“I played very nice in the Web.com finals in the last event of last season to even be here on the PGA Tour and I see myself as a player out here.”
Fortune favoured the brave in the final four holes at Palm Beach as all four men in contention struggled.
The 179yd par-3 15th, 434yd par-4 16th and 172yd par-3 17th, or the Bear Trap as it is better known, snared all and sundry who had believed the title was within their grasp.
Knox had to hole a testing putt on the last to stay at eight under and make the play-off – and he revelled in the pressure.
Not one for extravagant gestures on the golf course, a small fist pump after his 72nd hole said enough.
He was not able to replicate it in the play-off but Knox insists there are no regrets.
He said: “This course is such a great course, because you’ve just got to hit the shot. There’s no bailing out.
“You’ve just got to trust your ability, trust your swing and hit the exact shot you need to hit and that just shows how great the last four holes really are.
“I know my game is improving every week and I feel like this is a position I should be in.
“I’m confident in my game. I was very pleased with my finish. I didn’t win, but my previous best finish was tied ninth, so how can I be disappointed with this?”