SHANGHAI (AP) — Russell Knox would appear to have all the ingredients to succeed in golf.

But that would be skimming over the details.

Knox grew up in Scotland, the home of golf, and he once competed for his country in a youth tournament, where he first saw Rory McIlroy. He came to Florida to play college golf and was among the top players on his team for four years. As for his wife? He met her at Marsh Landing Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Now for those details.

“She was the tennis pro,” Knox said. “And I was the cart boy.”

He smiled at the memory Sunday at Sheshan International as he signed flags and caps to commemorate his two-shot victory in the HSBC Champions, making him the first player to win a World Golf Championship in his debut since the series began in 1999.

The victory was not so much a long time coming for the 30-year-old Knox as much as it was a long journey that was more about belief and hard work than raw talent.

It took him five years just to reach the PGA Tour, and he lasted only one season before having to fight his way back.

via Knox goes from cart boy to World Golf Championship winner | Golf | host.madison.com.