JAMES Knight turned back the clock to the days when he stood toe-to-toe with the likes Luke Donald and Justin Rose as England’s two finest amateur talents, to claim his first Hampshire Order of Merit victory, in the Delhi Cup at Hockley.
The Sandford Springs club champion for the past two years, who was welcomed back into the fold of Hampshire’s first-team squad at the ripe old age of 50, is still four years away from being able to compete in the country’s top seniors events.
But with Martin Young, the most successful amatuer in Hampshire history, with more than 20 county titles to his name, only turning 55 this year, 51-year-old Knight is now focused on forcing his way into the Hampshire Daily Telegraph League side.
Knight was clearly excited after firing two 67s on a blustery day high up on Twyford Down, as he made his scores on the scorable back nine and kept the mistakes on the uphill front nine to a bare minimum. •FULL DELHI CUP RESULTS
James, who made his England debut against France in 1995 alongside Europe’s Ryder Cup team captain Donald, after winning the Berkshire Trophy a year earlier, revealed it has taken a complete rededication to golf since 2016 to get back into the winners’ circle.
The father-of-three, who helps run the family double glazing business based in Newbury, said: “This feels as big as winning The Berkshire, which is still one of the top two or three strokeplay events in England, back in 1995.
Sandford Springs’ James Knight (right) receives the Delhi Cup from Hockley GC captain Andy Dunne, after shooting two 67s to win the first Hampshire Order of Merit event of 2025. Picture HOCKLEY GOLF CLUB
Knight, who finished sixth in The Berkshire last summer, said: “I knew it was there and just had to believe it would happen. I’m super chuffed to enjoy this moment with my top coach Gareth Johnston.
“I have had two longish spells out of the game – after things didn’t work out after I turned pro in the late 1990s, I took a couple of years away before coming back in 2003. I won the Berkhamsted Trophy, another top event, which Luke had also won.
“It lasted a couple of years but then I did really fall out of love with the game. I went off and became a serious road runner, representing England in my age groups over the next 11 years.
“But then I got pestered by the guys at my old club at Sandford Springs to go back and play, and after just one round, I had got the bug back.
“I have always worked really hard at everything I do. I want to be the best I can be as a golfer and a runner,” said the 1996 Hampshire Salver winner, who now has the Delhi Cup on his winners’ CV.
“But this time it has taken much longer to find the answers – whether that is with my swing, my body, my mind, my diet, and even the equipment, which is barely recognisable to what I played with 30 years ago.
“It has taken nine years to win something big outside of Sandford Springs but it feels fantastic. I could feel it coming last year and I started the season well by finishing in the top five at the Selborne Salver, another event I have won in the past.
“When I was asked by the Hampshire captain if I fancied joining up with the first-team squad for winter training, I accepted like a shot.
“And I want to dedicate my victory in the Delhi Cup to Toby Burden and the guys in his squad. We have had five or six sessions at places like Blackmoor, Hayling and Brokenhurst Manor.
“The set-up at Hampshire is like being in the Ryder Cup team – I am not joking. I am sure Luke would be impressed by our attention to detail, having played with him for England in the past.
“We have two incredible coaches – Kev Flynn and Simon Andrews. The technical work we do in practice is so, so good, and the insights they give us.
“You are also playing with some of the best county players in England. They may not all wear the England Golf blazer, but they have competed at the top level both in this country and abroad. I get to pick their brains, and try to beat them in our little competitions and skill challenges.
“You cannot help but learn and be inspired by the likes of Martin Young, who has played at the top level for 30 years and been a member of eight Hampshire teams at the English County Finals.
Sandford Springs’ James Knight – third from right back row – in the England team that suffered a shock defeat at Sunningdale. Picture ENGLISH GOLF UNION
‘“I played in the same team as Justin Rose that won the English County Championship for the first time in Hampshire’s history in 1996. Martin was the playing captain when we won it for a second time in 2017.
“Now, we all want to get back there for the first time in eight years and try and win it again,” added the 1996 Selborne Salver winner.
“The beauty of the squad Toby has put together is everyone pulls hard for each other. There is no ‘I’ in our team. They are humble guys who want to see their team-mate win, if they can’t.
“There are no egos, and the level of communication is better than any other team set up I have been involved in. We are all honest with each other, about everything related to the golf course, and off it.
“As a result the level of trust is incredible. We have all got each other’s backs. I can’t fail in wanting to play my best having been given this incredible opportunity so late in my golf career.”
The Hampshire team that won the English County Championship in 1996 – Justin Rose (front left) is with James Knight (front right)
Knight made 11 birdies over 36 holes and completed his round with an eagle at the downhill 18th to beat former England junior George Saunders, the recent winner of the Hampshire Salver, by three shots, after carding an eight-under total.
And he revealed one change he has made in his set-up since joining up with the Hampshire squad back in January before entering the Delhi Cup.
Knight said: “The other great thing about being involved with Hampshire is the fantastic support we receive from TaylorMade, the world’s biggest equipment manufacturer, who are based in Basingstoke.
“We get the use of their best and latest equipment backed up by all their staff’s expertise. I had my clubs and the golf ball I use, measured on a Trackman, working out all the spin rates and getting the right, balanced shafts for my irons and woods.
“We spotted that the TaylorMade T5 ball produced the best results with my clubs over my existing ball, so I took the decision to put it into play – I didn’t have to but it made sense to.
“I think the ball performed well in the wind at Hockley, particularly with my wedge game. I had a lot of short approach shots. I had to take something off some of them, and it would have been easy not to have hit the ball so close as I managed on some key holes.
“I would anticipate I will be keeping the T5 in my bag after starting the season with a big win on the Order of Merit.
“I am lucky my family allows me to play as much as I do, so I will be competing in all our big events this summer, trying my best to be the best I can be. I am very proud to add the Delhi to the competitions I have won down the years.”
•KNIGHT RECALLS SHOCK ESSEX LOSS WITH ROSE IN SOUTH EAST LEAGUE FINAL