Knox supports MacIntyre in Stanley queue over quirky shot

Russell Knox is the highest-placed Scot that enters the final day of the OpenThe 148th Open Championship – third-class leaderboard-16 S Lowry (Ire); -12 T Fleetwood (Eng); -10 JB Holmes (USA); -9 B Koepka (USA), J Rose (Eng); -8 R Fowler (USA), L Westwood; -7 D Willett (Eng), J Rahm (Spa), T Finau (US), J Spieth (United States) Other selected: -4 R Knox (Sco); -2 R MacIntyre (Sco), G McDowell (NI), D Johnson (USA); -1 S Garcia (Spa), E Els (SA); +2 P Casey (Eng), K Stanley (US)

Russell Knox says that Bob MacIntyre was right to interrogate Kyle Stanley after not warning the spectators that his ball was going their way on Friday.

The American tee-shot on the 17th hole drifted to the right of the fairway and in a group of fans watching.

It struck the mother of MacIntyre & # 39; s caddy on the arm, forcing her to receive medical treatment on the course.

"Good for him," said his colleague Scot. "Kyle has done this for a long time and he should know better."

When asked about the incident after his third round, Stanley was "not really sure why" MacIntyre made it a problem because of "my two playing partners, my caddy, a few volunteers or the marshall even had a signal that it went well ".

But Knox, who is the leading Scot in the field at Royal Portrush after a 68 left him in four under par, 12 shots behind leader Shane Lowry, said that etiquette should be followed "if you are new" on tour "of Phil Mickelson".

"That is what golf is all about," he said. "I have nothing about Kyle, but I don't care who you are – if your ball goes to people, you have to shout in advance."

Knox, who spends most of his season on the PGA Tour, insisted that Stanley & # 39; s response was not common in the United States.

"I think people here make a bigger deal, like the American boys don't shout," he said. "That's just not true, I mean, usually everybody does that.

" Kyle has just made a mistake. When the ball was in the air, he should have screamed earlier, but a good job for Bob to say something and I hope it didn't affect him in any way. "

Knox ended the day with birdies on the 17th and 18th holes to make him stuck for 19th place.

" Everything under par would have been good, especially in different wind conditions, "he said." I played well and made some good par saves, which kept going round.

"My goal in every major that I play is to achieve my best major finish." Tied 12th at the US Open in Shinnecock Hills is my best so far and, to be honest, I would be disappointed if I didn't beat this week. "

Macintyre is two shots farther back after a third round of level par 71. He says he disagrees with Stanley, who shot a 73 to lie on two over par, and is disappointed not higher on

"The way I played, I feel I should have gone on to fight it, but that's how it is," he added. "There is another day tomorrow and hopefully I can book a good day. "