Knox joins American Kisner in lead in Shanghai

Russell Knox made an unexpected trip to Shanghai and left with a most surprising victory Sunday in the HSBC Champions.

Li Haotong of China hits a shot from the bush on the 5th hole during the third round of the HSBC Champions golf tournament at the Sheshan global Golf Club in Shanghai, China Saturday, November 7, 2015. Li was tied with Dustin Johnson, who won the HSBC Champions two years ago. “You’re never quite sure if you’re ever going to do it because there’re so many incredible players throughout the world, especially at tournaments like this with such an elite field”, he said after winning by two strokes to claim the US$1.4 million (S$2 million) winner’s cheque. I didn’t know what it was going to take but I knew if I had a good week, it would be an improvement on a couple years ago. This morning, a golfer who has only ever played in four majors – making the cut in just one – wakes up in the knowledge that he will soon receive a cherished green-edged invitation to next year’s Masters.

World number three McIlroy, troubled by food poisoning before the start of the tournament, retained his lead in the Race To Dubai standings after carding seven birdies on the final day to finish in a share of 11th place.

Kisner had to make do with second place on his own.

Willett moved to 15 under with his eighth birdie of the day as his second shot got to within three feet of the testing back pin on the 13th and when he made another gain on the next, he was within two of the lead with Fisher who picked up a shot on the eighth. Playing before a home crowd – he grew up in Shanghai and plays out of Lake Malaren, home of next week’s BMW Masters – he prepared Friday night to cope with the stress and pressure and turned it into the most fun he’s had on a golf course. “My goal is to finish top 10”. That means the Race to Dubai will be settled in the final event at the DP World Championship in Dubai.

He had elected to complete his final hole of the third round Sunday after bad light had brought play to a premature close the night before.

The only sign of a struggle came when he missed a 3-foot birdie putt on No. 8 and then failed to get up-and-down for par on the ninth.

Knox then retook the lead with a birdie on 11, but the chasing pack continued to pick up shots as well to keep the top of the leaderboard congested.

Knox birdied his opening three holes and built a two-shot lead with a birdie on the 11th.

“I needed to go a little bit lower to give myself a chance going into (Sunday), but I’ll try to finish off the tournament with a good score and get myself into the top 10 or the top five”.

For a decade Knox, whose father once sold fruit machines in Inverness, had toiled at the extremities of the USA golf circuit, having forsaken his hometown for the chance of a golf scholarship in Jacksonville. “I thought about Mike throughout the day”, he reflected.

“All this sounds unbelievable”, said Knox.