Russell Knox celebrates winning the play-off on the 18th during day four of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Ballyliffin Golf Club.
Russell Knox’s hopes of making this year’s European Ryder Cup have received a significant boost with victory in the Irish Open.
The Inverness golfer, who finished runner-up at last week’s French Open, shot a closing round of 66 to finish in a play-off with New Zealander Ryan Fox on 14-under-par at Ballyliffin.
It looked like advantage Fox as he hit another superb drive on the first play-off hole and pitched to around the same distance from which he missed on the 72nd hole.
But Knox also saw his approach from the bank of a fairway bunker end up remarkably close to where he had holed a monster putt on the 18th in regulation and amazingly again drained the long birdie putt.
Fox then saw his attempt to keep the play-off alive catch the edge of the hole and spin out, giving Knox an incredible victory.
Knox earns £877,000 for winning the Rolex Series event and a huge amount of Ryder Cup qualifying points.
He said: “This feels amazing.
“Last year was a tough one for me but I stuck with it.
“I can’t believe I have won it.”
Russell Knox gives Ryder Cup hopes major boost with dramatic Irish Open play-off victory
