Russell Knox joins Marc Warren in Shanghai line-up

Jacksonville-based Knox, in Malaysia last week for the PGA Tour’s CIMB Classic, had been first reserve since Ian Poulter got in following Brandt Snedeker’s withdrawal.

Elevated after American JB Holmes pulled out, Knox has earned his chance through a career-best finish of 34th in the 2015 FedEx Cup standings and will aim to use the opportunity to improve on his world ranking of 85th.

Elsewhere, Colin Montgomerie still leads the Charles Schwab Cup standings heading into the final event of the Champions Tour campaign in Arizona later this week.

Despite closing with a 66 in an event played at Newport Beach in California, the Scot finished behind his two closest challengers on the money-list, American Jeff Maggert and Germany’s Bernhard Langer, in the Toshiba Classic.

However, heading into the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, starting at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Thursday, Montgomerie holds a slender 39-point lead over Maggert, with defending champion Langer a further 27 points adrift.

For the second week running, Ted Innes-Ker was quickest out of the blocks among the Scottish contingent on the MENA Tour.

Playing in the Ras Al Khaimah Classic, the Duke of Roxburghe’s son opened with a four-under-par 68 to sit joint-fifth, just two shots off the lead. Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke shot a 71 that was matched by Scottish duo Clarke Lutton and Paul Doherty.

On the ladies’ front, Gemma Dryburgh and Jane Turner progressed to the LET Qualifying School. With a closing 70 for an eight-under 296, Dryburgh finished joint-fifth in the first stage event in Morocco, where it was also mission accomplished for Turner despite a closing 79.

A third Scot, Heather Stirling, missed out by three shots after a last-round 80.