His father was born in San Diego but moved with parents to Scotland when he was 21, married a Scot and along came Russell Knox born in Inverness and his sister Diane Campbell, who goes by Knoxy, is a well-known radio DJ in Glasgow on Clyde.
He moved to Jacksonville, Florida, his adopted home and went to university there and this morning Russell Knox claimed his first professional and first European Tour title in his first appearance at a WGC event.
He came into the final round in a share of the lead, but a closing -4 68 around a damp Sheshan International Golf Club got him to - 20 under for a two shot victory over Kevin Kisner the bridesmaid again.
Danny Willett surged up the leaderboard into a share of third in stunning fashion early in the day, posting ten birdies in an unblemished -10 62 which proved to be the round of the week and moved him closer to Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy.
Knox becomes the first Scotsman to win a WGC event and he held his nerve on the back nine, opening a two shot lead with birdies on the tenth and 11th before he sealed the deal with a sixth birdie of the day on the 16th
"Winning any level is the hardest thing you can do, and especially because I've never won a big one like this. It was tough but I just kept holing putts, and golf is so much easier when that happens."
For Kisner, it was another second-place finish, remarkably he has been beaten in three play-offs on the PGA Tour in 2015.
Ross Fisher was alongside Willett at -17 after a closing 68 with Branden Grace (68) and Dustin Johnson (71) a further shot back.
Matthew Fitzpatrick (67), local favourite Li Haotong (72), Patrick Reed (70) and Jordan Spieth (70) were all at -15, with McIlroy (66) in the group of six players at -14. Spieth returns to world #1
Race to Dubai : Danny Willett now moves onto next week's BMW Masters with just a 74,214 point deficit to make up on McIlroy, who birdied his last hole to finish in a share of 11th place on -14
With McIlroy not returning to action until the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, a top 25 finish for Willett at Lake Malaren Golf Club would see him usurp the Northern Irishman at the top of The Race to Dubai Rankings.
Bryan Angus (notes from europeantour.com)
Ross Fisher was alongside Willett at -17 after a closing 68 with Branden Grace (68) and Dustin Johnson (71) a further shot back.
Matthew Fitzpatrick (67), local favourite Li Haotong (72), Patrick Reed (70) and Jordan Spieth (70) were all at -15, with McIlroy (66) in the group of six players at -14. Spieth returns to world #1
Race to Dubai : Danny Willett now moves onto next week's BMW Masters with just a 74,214 point deficit to make up on McIlroy, who birdied his last hole to finish in a share of 11th place on -14
With McIlroy not returning to action until the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, a top 25 finish for Willett at Lake Malaren Golf Club would see him usurp the Northern Irishman at the top of The Race to Dubai Rankings.
Bryan Angus (notes from europeantour.com)
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