Russell Knox: Hometown Scottish Open will be a blast

There could be no more perfect a homecoming for Russell Knox than to lift the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open trophy in his home town of Inverness next summer.

Knox, an Aberdeen Asset Management Golf Ambassador, secured a fantastic breakthrough victory at the recent WGC–HSBC Champions in China to burst into the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking and secure a debut spot in the 2016 Masters Tournament.

And, while the 30 year old cannot wait to set foot on the hallowed turf of Augusta National, he admits a victory on his home soil of Castle Stuart is just as exciting a prospect as driving down Magnolia Lane in April.

“It’s a dream come true to play the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart to be honest,” said Knox, who finished in a tie for tenth place at this year’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Gullane Golf Club.

“I can’t wait to go to the Masters this year. That is the tournament I think we all dream about playing, but for me, going home to play the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart is giving me a similar feeling. It’s going to be a blast – I just hope I can play well and it will just be a superb week to play in front of old friends and family.

“The Scottish Open is always an amazing week for me. I feel like playing full time in the States and then getting to come home and play the Scottish Open makes it feels like a vacation in many ways. Don’t get me wrong, I am there to do everything I can to win, but there is this cool sense of being able to go there and relax and enjoy the tournament which is so refreshing in the middle of the year.

“I had a small chance to win at Gullane, and the ultimate goal would be to have a chance to win on the Sunday at Castle Stuart. It’s been a while since a Scotsman put his name on that trophy and what a story that would be if I could win it in my hometown.”

The Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open returns to Castle Stuart in 2016 after a two year absence. Staged at Castle Stuart from 2011-2013, England’s Luke Donald, India’s Jeev Milkha Singh and American Phil Mickelson all lifted the famous Scottish Open trophy at the superb Inverness venue.

Knox, now a European Tour Member as he bids to make a first Ryder Cup appearance for Europe in 2016, will be looking to become the first Scot to secure a home victory in the event since Colin Montgomerie won at Loch Lomond in 1999.

* Discounted tickets are available now until December 31 at http://tickets.europeantour.com/aamscottishopen