He’s the Augusta marker that sends social media wild seemingly every single year come the weekend of the Masters. But who is Jeff Knox?
Well, Augusta National insists that when an odd number of players make the cut, a marker has to be sent out with the player that would normally have to play on their own.
Jeff Knox is the lucky Augusta member that is sent out every year – and it turns out that he’s pretty handy around the layout.
Knox is the Augusta National course record holder from the member tees thanks to a 61 – the Masters record is 63, shot by both Nick Price and Greg Norman – and he won the Georgia Mid-Amateur three times. Knox’s son Lee has also won the Georgia Amateur twice.
Back in 2014, Knox was on hand to play with Rory McIlroy on the Saturday. McIlroy, the World No 1 at the time, shot a 1-under-par round of 71, which was one shot worse than Knox.
McIlroy said: “He’s the best I’ve ever seen on Augusta’s greens.”
While Justin Thomas added: “I’d take him over anyone in the world on those greens, hands down.”
Kevin Kisner is also a fan: “If the PGA Tour played every event at Augusta National, Jeff Knox would be on tour. He doesn’t miss inside eight feet.”
Knox, 55, first started the role in 2003 and has since played with the likes of Craig Stadler, Jim Furyk, Sergio Garcia, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Jason Day.
In 2019, he had the chance to play alongside Eddie Pepperell, who quipped: “I don’t want any myths going around. I did beat him, which makes me better than Rory McIlroy apparently.”
Of course, Augusta National doesn’t make Knox available for interviews.
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