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| Knox, pipped to victory by Rory McIlroy last week, hopes to join the Northern Irishman in the European team |
Scotsman Russell Knox says he is
"very optimistic" about his chances of making his Ryder Cup debut for
Europe against the United States in September.
The US-based 30-year-old is currently 17th on the World points list and 32nd on the European points list after rising to a career-best ranking of 23.
"I feel like if I keep playing the way I am, I should make it," Knox said.
"It is the best of the best that make the team, so you really have to deserve it and earn it. Hopefully I can."
Knox finished joint-second to Rory McIlroy at last week's Irish Open, having also finished runner-up at the OHL Classic in mid-November and the RBC Heritage last month on the PGA Tour in America.
Inverness-born Knox will make his debut at the BMW PGA Championship on Thursday as he seeks to further his ambition of teeing it up for Europe at Hazeltine, Minnesota from 30 September to 2 October.
"After my win in China I gladly joined the European Tour to get a push for the Ryder Cup team," he said.
"I got off to a slow start this year and wasn't playing that well. But recently I have been in great form, and had a couple of great chances to win, so I am very optimistic about my chances."
'I strive to be as accurate and dialled-in as Monty'
Knox has been trying out new drivers at Wentworth this week after his old one bit the dust during his first round at the Irish Open."I hit my drive on the 12th or 13th hole and the face cracked," he recalled. "I'd used that one for three-and-a-half years so it was a sad moment in my life!
"My buddie David Lingmerth (a Swedish golfer) came to my rescue and I used his driver for the next three days.
"I have been giving it a whack here with three or four to choose from, but I think I've found one that is halfway decent, so it should be good.
"I remember watching 'Monty' [fellow Scot Colin Montgomerie, who won the Wentworth event three years in a row from 1998 to 2000] dominating here - pin-high, every iron shot.
"I really strive to be as accurate and dialled-in as he was over the years."
