CONNECTICUT — Scotland’s Russell Knox rocketed into Ryder Cup consideration when he sank a 12-foot par putt at the final hole to beat Jerry Kelly by one stroke and win the Travelers Championship in Connecticut Sunday.
On a day when Jim Furyk carded a record 12-under-par 58, Knox closed with a 68 to finish at 14-under-par 266 at River Highlands in Cromwell.
The 31-year-old from Inverness got up-and-down from a greenside bunker at the final hole to edge American veteran Kelly (64), who watched on from a TV in the scoring trailer.
An ecstatic Knox flung his cap across the green when the winning putt dropped as his Canadian caddie Bradley Whittle celebrated a second victory at the event previously known as the Greater Hartford Open, having worked for 1994 winner David Frost.
“I said to my caddie Bradley, it’s never easy. That putt, I’ll remember that one forever,” Knox told CBS television.
It is the second PGA Tour victory for Knox, who broke through by winning the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai in November.
He becomes the fifth player with two or more victories on tour this season, joining an elite list that also includes Jason Day (three wins), Adam Scott, Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson.
The win lifts Knox inside the top 20 in the world rankings and offers another reminder of his talent to European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke ahead of the biennial event against the United States in less than two months.
Only five European players are ahead of Knox on the world rankings — Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Danny Willett, Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose.
“I thought about it (Ryder Cup) on the last tee to be honest,” Knox said.
“I knew by winning this tournament, it puts Darren Clarke in a very difficult position not to pick me but it’s his decision.
“He can pick whoever he wants. If I make the top nine I deserve to be on the team. If I’m number 10 he can quite happily pass on me and that’s just the way it is.
“I hope I’m on the team. I’d love to be there. It would be a huge honor. Holing nice putts like that obviously helps.”
Knox’s victory came a few hours after American Furyk had shot the lowest round in PGA Tour history when he compiled one eagle and 10 birdies in his final round.
Furyk’s 58 was one shot better than the previous record on tour held by six players, including Furyk himself.
The performance vaulted him into a tie for fifth at 11-under, three shots behind Knox.
Overnight leader Daniel Berger also finished three strokes behind after a 74 that included four consecutive bogeys from the 10th hole.
