Russell Knox has taken up membership on the European Tour with the view of giving himself a chance of earning a place at next year's Ryder Cup.

Earlier this month, Knox won the WGC-HSBC Champions event to move into the world's top 30, and put himself in contention to earn a spot in Darren Clarke's European team.

To do so, the Scot, who is based in Florida, needs to play a number of tournaments on the European Tour, something which he intends to do over the course of the next nine months.

The 30-year-old is quoted by BBC Sport as saying: "I am excited about taking up European Tour membership in 2016.

"I look forward to trying to make Darren Clarke's team for the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine."

Knox's first appearance is expected to come at the Nedbank Golf Challenge during the first week of December.