Russell Knox of Scotland won for the first time on the PGA Tour, closing with a 4-under-par 68 to beat Kevin Kisner by two strokes in the WGC-HSBC Champions at Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, China.
The 30-year-olde Knox (pictuired with his wife, Andrea), who won for the fifth time as a pro, took the lead with birdies on the 10th and 11th holes before adding another at No. 16 with a 12-foot putt that gave him a three-shot lead.
“I always thought I was going to win a big one for my first one,” said Knox, who got into the limited-field even a week ago when J.B. Holmes withdrew. “This is going to take a long time to sink in.
“I’m over the moon. … This is now my favorite tournament. I look forward to playing it for many years to come.”
Kisner, who finished second for the fourth time this season with the other three coming in playoffs, shot 70 and couldn’t put any pressure on Knox as his only birdie on the back nine came at No. 18.
Danny Willett of England birdied the first four holes and posted a bogey-free 62 to finish three strokes behind in a tie for third with Ross Fisher, also of England, who totaled 68.
World No. 8 Dustin Johnson had his chances derailed by a double bogey 7 on the eighth hole and his 71 left him four shots down in a tie for fifth with Branden Grace of South Africa, who came in at 68.
No. 2 Jordan Spieth could not back up his third-round 63 and a 71 dropped him to five shots back in a tie for seventh with Matthew Fitzpatrick of England, who had a 67, Patrick Reed, who finished at 70, and Haotong Li, who shot 72 and registered the highest-ever finish on the PGA Tour by a Chinese player.
No. 3 Rory McIlroy (66) of Northern Ireland, No. 7 Henrik Stenson (68) of Sweden and No. 11 Sergio Garcia (68) tied for 11th, No. 5 Rickie Fowler (67) tied for 17th, and No. 4 Bubba Watson (72), the defending champion, tied for 35th.
