Russell Knox held off 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 at 7.45am on Sunday morning to complete the final hole of his third round, which he 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 total secured victory by two shots from American Kevin Kisner, and earned the Inverness native €1,264,450, plus a jump from 85th in the world ranking to inside the top 30.
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 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. 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.
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