Augusta National member Jeff Knox plays again as marker

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Augusta’s Jeff Knox concluded another weekend playing in the Masters Tournament, touring Augusta National Golf Club with Kevin Na in the first group of the day in Sunday’s final round.

Knox, who is the club’s noncompeting marker and thus doesn’t keep an official score, played with Bubba Watson on Saturday and didn’t break 80 after a few pickups on holes, friends said. He had about the same score Sunday, they said, though Na thought Knox shot in “the mid- to high 70s.”

This was the 17th time Knox has been called on by the club to be a marker, dating back to 2003.

As an Augusta National member, Knox is not allowed to speak to the media.

The highlight of Knox’s round Sunday was a birdie on the par-3 16th hole, where he hit his tee shot within 2 feet of the hole.

“Knox was great to play with. We had a great chat out there,” Na said. “I enjoyed it and I made a new friend.

“He is a great player. I think he has a chance in one of these U.S. Mid-Amateurs.”

Knox, 53, is an expert on the Augusta National greens, but that didn’t help Na, who shot 4-under-par 32 on the front nine but finished with 72.

“We weren’t in similar spots on the greens today, but obviously he knows where he is going,” Na said.