“PRO” FILE – Touring Professional Kenny Knox

With the tour’s Honda Classic being played in its traditional time frame at the end of February/first of March, a look back at the historic 1986 edition is warranted. Kenny Knox became the first Monday qualifier to win a tour event on the all-exempt tour when he overcame a third-round 80 to take his first tour win. Luminaries such as Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf were in the field, but Knox bested them all. He became an overnight sensation, leading after two rounds. His third-round 80 looks bad at first, but when you realize the average score that day was 79, it wasn’t too bad overall. Steady winds of 30 mph with wind gusts up to 45 mph wreaked havoc with the field. Weiskopf posted an 86, and future Hall of Famers Hale Irwin, Fred Couples and Ray Floyd all shot 81. Knox went on to win two more times in his career before retiring to Monticello, Florida, just outside Tallahassee. Today he keeps busy with a teaching schedule and yes, occasionally tees it up in local events.