Russell Knox held off spirited challenges from a host of rivals on the final day of the WGC-HSBC Champions to become the first Scotsman to win a World Golf Championship event and earn his maiden European Tour victory.
Knox had to return to Sheshan International Golf Course at 7.45am on Sunday morning to complete the final hole of his third round, which he duly birdied, before beginning his final round with two gains in three holes to establish a lead which he would not relinquish.
A closing round of 68 for a 20 under par aggregate total secured victory by two shots from American Kevin Kisner, and earned the Inverness native €1,264,450 plus a position in the top 30 of the Official World Golf Ranking.
Victory completed a remarkable ten days for Knox, who only discovered he was in the tournament after JB Holmes withdrew last Thursday.
Kisner birdied the last hole to sign for a round of 70 and an 18 under par total, while third place was shared between the English duo of Ross Fisher (68) and Danny Willett, who rampaged through the field with a superb round of 62 to narrow the gap on Rory McIlroy in The Race to Dubai Rankings with just two events of the season left.
McIlroy ended a frustrating week on a high note, holing a long birdie putt on the final green to card a round of 66 and take a share of 11th place on 14 under par.
Home hero Li Hao-tong treated his legion of fans to thrills and spills a plenty, closing with a round of 72 which included five birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey seven at the second hole.
Li’s tied seventh finish alongside Jordan Spieth, who returned to the World Number One spot, was the best performance by a Chinese player in a WGC event.
Key quotes
Russell Knox, 68 (-20)
“It’s incredible. I always hoped it (a win) was going to happen but you’re just never sure. There’s just so many unbelievable players on tours all around the world and to win on this stage is a dream come true. I still can’t quite believe it.
“Deep down in my bones I felt I was capable of winning. I thought it was going to be maybe another year, but I’m glad it happened now.”
Danny Willett, 62 (-17)
“It’s very special. It’s special shooting 62 at home with the lads, but in a World Golf Championship on a Sunday when it means something a bit more, obviously it’s that little bit more special.
“It could be big for me in the Race to Dubai, especially with Rory not playing next week, we could climb a few more points on him and give us a nice buzz going into the next week into Dubai.”
Ross Fisher, 68 (-17)
“I’m obviously delighted. It was a shame to come up a little bit shy, but I gave it a good go. I felt like I played some really good golf. I gave myself a lot of looks at birdie. And then made a few good par putts on the front nine to keep me in it.
“I lost in a play-off here a few years ago, which was one I probably let slip a little bit. I learned from those experiences. And it’s just nice to be in the mix in such a big tournament. I’ve missed the buzz, the adrenaline, and that’s what we live to play this game for. We want to be in the mix.”
Li Hao-tong, 72 (-15)
“The first five holes gave me a hard time, but I was lucky to make a lot of birdies on the back nine and get up-and-down a lot. I think today is my most up-and-down round of the year. It is incredible for me this week. This for me is very, very big.”
Rory McIlroy, 66 (-14)
“I feel like I played well enough to win this week. I just didn’t hole enough putts and that’s sort of been the story of my season, well, at least, for the last couple of months anyway. But it’s getting better. I feel like every tournament I play, I’m getting a little bit better and hopefully I can continue in that trend and go into Dubai and play well again.”
Final round scores
268 R Knox (Sco) 67 65 68 68,
270 K Kisner (USA) 64 66 70 70,
271 R Fisher (Eng) 69 69 65 68, D Willett (Eng) 65 74 70 62,
272 D Johnson (USA) 65 71 65 71, B Grace (RSA) 63 71 70 68,
273 M Fitzpatrick (Eng) 68 69 69 67, J Spieth (USA) 68 72 63 70, P Reed (USA) 65 70 68 70, L Haotong (Chn) 66 69 66 72,
274 M Leishman (Aus) 69 72 65 68, H Stenson (Swe) 69 72 66 67, D Berger (USA) 68 71 69 66, T Jaidee (Tha) 72 68 66 68, R McIlroy (Nir) 68 72 68 66, S Garcia (Esp) 68 70 68 68,
275 R Fowler (USA) 68 72 68 67, B Wiesberger (Aut) 70 66 69 70,
277 T Olesen (Den) 64 74 66 73, S Hend (Aus) 68 69 67 73, B An (Kor) 69 68 68 72, H Mahan (USA) 68 68 71 70,
278 P Casey (Eng) 67 72 71 68, G Woodland (USA) 69 71 73 65, H English (USA) 67 71 70 70, T Pieters (Bel) 67 71 71 69,
279 K Kim (Kor) 74 71 68 66, J Thomas (USA) 72 69 70 68, J Morrison (Eng) 69 70 68 72,
280 K Aphibarnrat (Tha) 69 70 70 71, T Fleetwood (Eng) 67 71 72 70, I Poulter (Eng) 72 71 70 67, M Kaymer (Ger) 69 71 73 67, D Howell (Eng) 73 68 69 70,
281 S Piercy (USA) 70 73 66 72, C Schwartzel (RSA) 68 72 69 72, E Grillo (Arg) 69 71 69 72, R Streb (USA) 73 69 68 71, B Watson (USA) 68 73 68 72,
282 S Bowditch (Aus) 64 75 68 75, L Donald (Eng) 71 69 70 72, A Lahiri (Ind) 70 75 66 71, M Jones (Aus) 74 70 68 70,
283 L Oosthuizen (RSA) 68 69 73 73, D Summerhays (USA) 68 74 67 74,
284 Z Xinjun (Chn) 67 72 73 72, S Chawrasia (Ind) 69 72 71 72, M Jiménez (Esp) 73 72 70 69, S Kjeldsen (Den) 68 71 70 75, R Lee (Can) 68 72 73 71,
285 D Zecheng (Chn) 70 71 73 71, C Wood (Eng) 68 76 69 72, L Westwood (Eng) 72 69 71 73,
286 T Aiken (RSA) 70 71 73 72, A Noren (Swe) 70 76 66 74, T Hatton (Eng) 70 76 70 70,
287 K Na (USA) 72 72 72 71,
288 L Wenchong (Chn) 71 73 73 71, G Chalmers (Aus) 73 73 69 73, D Lee (Nzl) 71 73 71 73, W Ashun (Chn) 69 74 72 73, N Cullen (Aus) 74 71 70 73, T Fisher Jnr (RSA) 67 74 70 77,
289 H Iwata (Jpn) 70 77 69 73, A Sullivan (Eng) 70 74 70 75, C Smith (Aus) 71 73 70 75,
290 D Chia (Mas) 72 73 74 71,
292 A Dodt (Aus) 70 80 76 66, S Lowry (Irl) 74 75 72 71,
293 A Scott (Aus) 75 76 72 70,
294 S Kodaira (Jpn) 74 76 76 68,
295 D Van Tonder (RSA) 77 73 71 74, D Lingmerth (Swe) 70 72 76 77,
297 C Yi (Chn) 70 78 71 78,
301 S Jeffress (Aus) 76 78 73 74,
303 C Kirk (USA) 71 79 74 79, M Warren (Sco) 75 74 81 73,
** H Matsuyama (Jpn) 71 73 RT 0
