Russell Knox wasn’t able to deliver the victory he craved, but the Inverness golfer loved every minute of playing in front of a home crowd at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.
The 31-year-old, Scotland’s highest-ranked golfer, saved his best round for last with a closing five-under-par 67, finishing on nine under overall.
Knox now travels to Royal Troon for this week’s Open and was pleased to sign off on a positive note in his home city.
He said: “It would have been incredible to win but I am happy with the way I played.
“It has been great. I had so many friends I have known for years walking around with me and I wish I could have spoken to every one of them.
“It has been an amazing week and it was nice to play well on the final day.
“I had a bogey at the first and on 17 but, apart from that, I played very nicely.
“Is it a case of what might have been? Yes, I think so.
“I tried as hard as I could and I putted really well.
“This was really the only good putting round I had and normally it takes two or three really good ones to be right up there.”
Knox feels his game is in fine shape ahead of playing in the Open championship – having missed the cut on his maiden appearance at St Andrews 12 months ago after gaining a late spot in the field when then world number one Rory McIlroy withdrew through injury.
He added: “I feel great, especially with the way I drove the ball and putted today.
“This was a great day for building up my confidence going into next week so I am looking forward to it very much.
“It took me a couple of days to get adjusted to the greens.
“I was mishitting my putts slightly and just wasn’t getting the momentum. The greens are a little slower here but that tends to be the case with links golf.”