Russell Knox has confirmed that he will look to defend his Irish Open title at Lahinch Golf Club in County Clare in July.
The 33-year-old Scot claimed his first Rolex series title in dramatic fashion at Ballyliffin Golf Club last year when he forced a play-off courtesy of a 45-foot birdie putt and then emulated that feat on the first extra hole to see off the challenge of New Zealand’s Ryan Fox.
And Knox is relishing the prospect of retaining the title up against a host of fellow top players, including Tommy Fleetwood, Louis Oosthuizen, Danny Willett, Lee Westwood and Irish stars Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry.
The tournament also has extra significance in 2019 as the Open Championship will be taking place in Northern Ireland for the first time in 68 years at Royal Portrush just two weeks’ later.
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Knox told the European Tour website: “I can’t wait to return to Ireland to defend my title. “That win was a moment I’ll remember for the rest of my life, just one of those great days in my career which I’ll always look back on.
It will be nice to go back and enjoy my title defence and hopefully challenge for the title again. “The Irish fans were so supportive of me and I’m glad I could give something back with the drama at the 18th hole.
They are some of the best fans in the world and I have heard great things about Lahinch Golf Club and the surrounding area, so it should be a fantastic week in July.”
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