Officialsportsbetting.com Golf Betting Russell Knox talks about his experience at the Kentucky Derby

Russell Knox talks about his experience at the Kentucky Derby

Scotland’s Russell Knox, now residing in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, is a two-time PGA TOUR winner. He turned professional in 2007 and made his mark on the Web.com Tour, shooting a rare 59 at the 2013 Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft Nabisco. On the PGA TOUR, Knox became the first Scottish golfer to claim a World Golf Championships title, defeating Kevin Kisner by two strokes at the 2015 WGC-HSBC Champions. His second PGA TOUR victory came at the 2016 Travelers Championship, where he celebrated with an epic hat toss after holing the winning putt. Knox was named Scottish Player of the Year in front of 650 guests at an awards ceremony in Edinburgh in March 2016, an honor accepted by his radio DJ sister, Diane, who co-hosted the event. Although Knox’s childhood nickname was “Roo,” he recently spent a day with horses when he and wife, Andrea, took their first trip to the Kentucky Derby. We caught up with him at THE PLAYERS Championship two days after the race where he shared some thoughts on the experience. Question: Was this the first time at the Kentucky Derby for you? Russell Knox: “It was the first time. My wife has been at me for a few years now to go. I always wanted to go. I always thought it would be cool to experience it but I wasn’t really in a rush. I’m very fortunate to be associated with Vineyard Vines clothing company and they’re heavily involved with the Kentucky Derby, so we asked them for tickets and we went. It was a blast. We really did have a good time.â€� Q: Was the timing not convenient to attend in the past? Russell Knox: “I’d played the Wells Fargo Championship the last few years which coincides with the Derby and it’s tough to schedule an event like going to the Derby when you know you might be playing golf, but this year I knew I was taking that week off and everything just worked out so it was perfect timing for us.â€� Q: Are you a horse-racing fan? Russell Knox: “Not really. I mean, I started watching the Derby when I was playing on the mini-tours and we used to play a tournament just north of Augusta at a place called Savannah Lakes in South Carolina and the people I stayed with that week were from Louisville. It just so happened it was the week of the Derby. Of course, they had it on television so that was my first introduction to it. Since then, I’ve always tuned in to it on television. I’m not a super-big horse-racing fan but the whole experience was amazing, What a place.â€� Q: Did you place a bet? Who did you back? Russell Knox: “I did. I bet Bolt d’Oro and he was 8-1 and he did not win me any money. The whole experience of the races leading up to the Derby was pretty cool. It’s a giant party with 14 races in the day. It was probably just like I expected it to be. It was awesome.â€� Q: Was there something that stood out? Sights, sounds, smells? Russell Knox: “Unfortunately, it rained all day for us, so that was kind of a bummer. Our experience would have differed slightly if it was sunny. There were concerts and activities happening and we probably would have tripped around a little bit more and experienced some of that, but because it was raining we would have gotten soaked if we’d ventured out from our covered seats. That part of it was a little bit of a downer, but it was busy – a lot of people, a lot of cool outfits. I was dressed brightly and a lot of ladies were ‘dressed to the nines’ as they say.â€� Q: The race occurred on Cinco de Mayo this year. Are you a tequila guy or a bourbon guy? Russell Knox: “I don’t really dabble into that much, but I’ll admit I did have a mint julep or two. I expected it to be a fruity drink, but it wasn’t. You definitely get a good taste of bourbon when you have a mint julep. I had a few, but mostly just to cheer on the horses.â€� Q: Did you run into any celebrities or other PGA TOUR professionals? Russell Knox: “I didn’t run into anyone but a did speak with Justin Thomas a few weeks before the race. He told me we were going to have an amazing time because, being from Kentucky, he’d been to the race in previous years. So, I knew we were going to have a good time before we went.â€� Q: How would you compare the atmosphere of the Kentucky Derby to other major sporting events? Russell Knox: “I saw it similar to two events. I’ve been to Wimbledon once. The Masters at Augusta National is the other. I thought it was kind of on that same level because every year it’s the same location. You know it’s going to be there. They can prepare accordingly, everything’s ready, the hype, and there’s so much history. I mean, it was the 144th running of the race. I think I played in the 144th Open Championship as well, so that was a pretty cool connection for me. The history involved in going back to the same place, the traditions like seeing the owners and all the connections walk down the track with the horses, that was pretty cool. You could sense that aura when you’re there.â€� Q: Last question. Would you rather wear the silks of the winning jockey and claim the Kentucky Derby or lift the FedExCup on the PGA TOUR? Russell Knox: “I’ll take that FedExCup trophy. And the bonus that comes with it. All day.â€�  

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Tournament Match-Ups - J.T. Poston / K. Mitchell vs T. Detry / R. MacIntyre
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J.T. Poston / Keith Mitchell-130
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Akshay Bhatia / Carson Young-120
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Gerard / Walker-110
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Fishburn / Blair-140
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Type: 1st Round Match Up - Status: OPEN
McIlroy / Lowry-180
Poston / Mitchell+150
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Type: 1st Round 2 Ball - Status: OPEN
Ramey / Lower-155
Streb / Merritt+130
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Poston / Mitchell-145
Gerard / Walker+120
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Garnett / Straka-130
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Straka / Garnett-130
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R. Hojgaard / N. Hojgaard-130
Thorbjornsen / Vilips+110
1st Round Match Up - Rai / Theegala vs Horschel / Hoge
Type: 1st Round Match Up - Status: OPEN
Horschel / Hoge-110
Rai / Theegala-110
1st Round 2 Ball - Malnati / Knox v Davis / Svensson
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Davis / Svensson-155
Malnati / Knox+130
1st Round 2 Ball - Hoge / Horschel v Lowry / McIlroy
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Lowry v McIlroy-180
Hoge / Horschel+150
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Hodges / Dufner-125
Snedeker / Reavie+105
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Theegala / Rai-125
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Jeeno Thitikul-140
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Shelton / Mullinax-125
Pak / Montgomery+105
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F. Capan III / Knapp-130
Cole / Saunders+110
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Jin Young Ko+115
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Angel Yin+125
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McGreevy / Stevens-115
Hisatsune / Kanaya-105
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Hisatsune / Kanaya-145
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Stevens / McGreevy-160
Sigg / Kisner+135
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Charley Hull-110
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Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Dickson / Crowe+120
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Tie+500
1st Round 2 Ball - Peterson / Rosenmuller v Roy / Cone
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Peterson / Rosenmueller+120
Roy / Cone+110
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1st Round 2 Ball - Canter / Smith v Salinda / Velo
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Canter / Smith-110
Salinda / Velo+145
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1st Round 2 Ball - Ventura / Rozner v Widing / Fisk
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Ventura / Rozner+115
Widing / Fisk+115
Tie+500
1st Round Match Up - Cauley / Tway vs Valimaki / Silverman
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Cauley / Tway-115
Valimaki / Silverman-105
1st Round Match Up - Ghim / C. Kim vs Hossler / Putnam
Type: 1st Round Match Up - Status: OPEN
Ghim / C. Kim-120
Hossler / Putnam+100
1st Round 2 Ball - Cauley / Tway v Ghim / C. Kim
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Cauley / Tway+125
Ghim / C. Kim+105
Tie+500
1st Round 2 Ball - Champ / Griffin v Hossler / Putnam
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Champ / Griffin+130
Hossler / Putnam+105
Tie+500
1st Round 2 Ball - Haas / Laird v Lipsky / D. Wu
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Haas / Laird+140
Lipsky / D. Wu-105
Tie+500
1st Round 2 Ball - Phillips / Bridgeman v Valimaki / Silverman
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Bridgeman / Phillips+105
Valimaki / Silverman+125
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1st Round Match Up - Vegas / Yu vs Duncan / Schenk
Type: 1st Round Match Up - Status: OPEN
Vegas / Yu-135
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1st Round 2 Ball - Duncan / Schenk v List / Norlander
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1st Round 2 Ball - Higgs / Dahmen v Novak / Griffin
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Higgs / Dahmen+160
Novak / Griffin-120
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1st Round Match Up - M. Fitzpatrick / A. Fitpatrick vs Echavarria / Greyserman
Type: 1st Round Match Up - Status: OPEN
Echavarria / Greyserman-120
M. Fitzpatrick / A. Fitpatrick+100
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Vegas / Yu+130
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Detry / MacIntyre-110
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Fox / Higgo+115
N. Taylor / Hadwin+115
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Watney / Hoffman-105
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Bryson DeChambeau+2000
Shane Lowry+2500
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USA-150
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I think it’s a mix of everything, but Scott really helped out a lot.” The only time Buckley has missed the weekend rounds since June came at the Wyndham Championship last week, when he made the cut but withdrew with pain in his right hand. He thinks he may have aggravated it on the firm turf at the 3M Open (T26) and/or Rocket Mortgage Classic (T24). This also marks his 30th start of the season, which he said has been too much. Alas, he added, he felt he had to play in whatever he could get into as a rookie. In retrospect, his Wyndham weekend that wasn’t might have been the best thing for him. And for his fans, too. “I haven’t really looked into the crowd,” Buckley said. “I’m going to go see them here in a little bit. … I don’t get to come home much and it’s nice to have that support close to home.” NOTES: Trey Mullinax, who began the week in the 70th and final BMW Championship-eligible position in the FedExCup, is making a bid to not only keep his season alive but maybe position himself for the top-30 TOUR Championship. Mullinax, who picked up his first PGA TOUR win at the Barbasol Championship this summer, shot 66 to reach 11-under par. He’s just two off the lead. … FedExCup No. 93 Adam Schenk shot 66 but still has more work to do. He’s projected to go to 76th, just outside the BMW cutoff. … Ryan Palmer shot 69 and is projected to move from FedExCup No. 110 to 71st, one short of continuing his season, with one round remaining. BMW BUBBLE WATCH Here are the players projected to move in or out of the top 70 in the FedExCup. The top 70 will advance to the second event of the Playoffs, the BMW Championship at Wilmington (Del.) Country Club. PROJECTED IN Wyndham Clark (No. 79, projected to 51): Coming off a T8 at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, Clark was 4-under for the first four holes Saturday on the way to his third straight 67. He’s 9-under and will go into the final round four behind leader J.J. Spaun (68). Andrew Putnam (No. 87, projected to 55): Shot 67 to join a large group tied for 6th place at 9-under, four back. Endured a stretch of seven missed cuts in eight starts in the spring but has found something with T11 at 3M Open and T27 at Wyndham Championship. Hayden Buckley (No. 95, projected to 59): Enjoying some good mojo close to home, and much improved putting as he was first in strokes gained on the greens Saturday. Adam Scott (No. 77, projected to 64): Signed for a 70 to hang around at 7-under, six back going into Sunday. Scott holds the eighth and final spot in the International Presidents Cup Team standings. The top eight after the BMW qualify for the team, and if he doesn’t make it on points, International Captain Trevor Immelman will have to use a captain’s pick on him. Tyler Duncan (No. 118, projected to 57): Shot 67 to reach 10-under, three back. RSM Classic winner two seasons ago doesn’t have a top-10 finish this season. “Obviously, the results haven’t been there,” he said. “I feel like the game has been moving in the right direction and I feel like I’ve made a lot of improvements that I needed to make, and they just haven’t paid off yet.” PROJECTED OUT Alex Smalley (No. 61, projected to 72): Duke product and PGA TOUR rookie missed the cut at the FedEx St. Jude. Anirban Lahiri (No. 63, projected to 73): International Presidents Cup Team veteran missed the cut at FedEx St. Jude. Brendon Todd (No. 68, projected to 74): Won twice and finished a career-best 20th in the FedExCup two seasons ago but will have to do better than his even-par 70 in third round. John Huh (No. 67, projected to 75): Wyndham Championship runner-up withdrew with a lower-back injury after shooting 40 on his first nine holes Friday. Lanto Griffin (No. 69, projected to 79): Not in field after recent back surgery.

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