Image courtesy of Getty Images
New Zealander Ryan Fox’s breakthrough win on the PGA Tour at Myrtle Beach in South Carolina this morning, earned the 38 year old a cheque for US$720,000, taking his earnings for the PGA Tour season to US$1.2 million, but the victory has a far greater meaning than even the significant prizemoney.
Most importantly, the win provides Fox with full status on the PGA Tour for at least the next two years and thus providing the luxury of security of tenure during that time, a start at this coming week’s PGA Championship, access to the PGA Tour’s Signature events offering the chance to compete for vast amounts of prizemoney and an improvement to inside the top 70 in the world ranking.
Fox’s previous best world ranking was 23rd so he is still well short of those heights he enjoyed near the end of 2022, but that he has broken through on the PGA Tour adds yet another milestone to the already significant career of Ryan Fox.
Fox has now won four DP World Tour events, one PGA Tour event and three Australasian Tour titles in addition to several others on lesser tours and so is proving to be a truly worldwide player.
Admittedly, most of the stars of the PGA Tour were playing the Signature Truist Championship in Philadelphia, but that will matter little to Fox, given the spoils that come with this victory.
Until this week, Fox had been struggling for much of the 2025 year with just two top twenty finishes in the 8 PGA Tour starts before outlasting McKenzie Hughes and Harry Higgs in a three-way playoff at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club.
Interestingly, it was on this same golf course where Fox had produced his previous best finish on the PGA Tour when finishing 4th at the Myrtle Beach Classic last year.
Fox began his final round two behind Higgs and one behind Hughes but a closing nine of 32 for a round of 65 set up the chance of a playoff. Playing two groups behind, Hughes took the outright lead when he birdied the 15th and 16th but a wild drive at the 72nd hole led to a bogey and the trio were tied at 15 under par.
At the first extra hole, both Fox and Hughes pulled their tee shots, Hughes bouncing back from the trees into the fairway while Fox was left with a tricky shot from the left rough which he needed to turn from right to left if he was to get anywhere near the hole. He was unable to do so but found the fringe just off the back right of the green although some 60 feet from the hole, and with Hughes and Higgs some 15 and 25 feet from the hole with their approaches, it appeared Fox might be in trouble.
Then would come a superb pitch and run down the green by Fox, which never really looked like missing, and, with Higgs and Hughes unable to convert, the title was Fox’s.
“A playoff is probably a little different mindset,” said Fox when asked to describe the nature of the playoff victory. “A bit more like match-play. Obviously, I knew the two guys had pretty good birdie chances. I just wanted to give the chip a run at it.
“I had a really similar line in regulation and missed the putt right. My caddie, Dean, said to me, Remember, this doesn’t break that much. So I just kind of aimed straight at it, and I hit the spot I wanted to hit, which is always a nice thing. About 8 foot out. To be honest, it never looked like it was going anywhere else, and the rest of it is a bit of a blur from there.
“Very rewarding. I haven’t transitioned probably as well as I would have liked over to the PGA TOUR. It was a tough year last year. I managed to just keep my card. It’s been a scratchy start this year as well.
“I always deep down felt like I could compete with the guys out here. Just haven’t been able to put it together. I was very happy to do it this week and give myself a chance on Sunday was nice again. I’ve been in that position a bunch of times over on DP. It’s an uncomfortable feeling, but it’s also a good feeling. You know that’s where you want to be.
“I’ve had some pretty good shots down the stretch over in Europe. It was nice to do the same thing here. Regardless if I would have come out with a win or not today, I was really happy with how I played, and I could have taken a lot out of it. To get that win is extra special.”
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Ryan Fox makes impressive start at Quail Hollow
Ryan Fox reacts to making his putt on the 10th hole (his first) during the first round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club on Thursday, (Photo by Scott Taetsch/PGA of America)
New Zealand’s Ryan Fox was one of the last players into the field for this week’s PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Golf Club in Charlotte in North Carolina, and one of the first players onto the course on day one of the second major of the year, but after his round Fox found himself very much in the thick of things with an opening round of 4 under par 67.
Fox would complete his round, three behind American Ryan Gerard, although, as the morning wore on, Gerard would drop shots late in his round and as the afternoon field headed onto the course, Fox remained in second position and just one off the lead.
“I played really solid today,” said Fox after his impressive start. “It hasn’t been the ideal prep coming in for me, obviously winning last week, being last man in. I literally played 18 holes yesterday and that was the only thing I did preparation-wise, basically, hit a few balls on Tuesday and played one hole before the storm came in.
“Obviously knew I was playing well and just tried to get out of my own way and just let it happen. Today I was really happy with how I did that. Kept the momentum going from last week pretty nicely.
“I played the PGA here in ’17. So I had good memories from ’17. I played reasonably well that week for the most part. You know, I knew coming in that it’s a beast of a golf course, and you know, obviously it’s been redone a little bit since then and was — the changes look really good, and obviously they have just found a few extra yards on a few holes just to make it that little bit harder.
“I love the golf course. Maybe not that much strategy off the tee. You’ve just got to hit it hard and hit it pretty straight.
“But there’s definitely a little bit of controlling your golf ball into the greens, and you know, picking the right spots where you want to hit it and where you’re trying to miss it but, you know, that’s what you want from a major championship.
Fox was out in the very first group from the 10th tee on day one, playing with John Parry and Justin Hicks and made an immediate impact when holing and nine-footer for birdie after an adventurous trip down the par five. His wayward drive found the right hand rough and he was still some 100 yards from the hole when he hit his 3rd. It finished 9 feet from the hole and when he had converted he was able to settle into his round.
Adding two more birdies and no bogies by the turn, Fox moved into the lead when he birdied his 16th and 17th holes but a poor second from the middle of the fairway at the last led to a bogey. Still, it was a fine start, especially given the emotions of the last few days, having secured his first PGA Tour title just a few days ago.
“I probably took more out of that than the actual chip-in,” said Fox referring to his playoff victory at Myrtle Beach. “Obviously, that was incredible. But there’s a fair bit of luck involved in that. But you know, the shot I hit into 17 to make birdie to give myself a chance, that almost means more; I can take more out of that going into this week than maybe the chip-in.
“Yeah, I just kind of tried to take the same theory into this week; just pick my targets, hit my shots and trust that I’m playing well. It’s amazing what finding a bit of confidence can do. Like all of a sudden the bad shots that were irking me a couple weeks ago didn’t seem to matter quite so much today.
“I think that’s a good way to play in a major because you’re going to hit a few bad shots. You’re going to get a few bad breaks. They are hard golf courses, and being able to have some acceptance is pretty important.”
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McIlroy’s presence alone worth every penny
McIlroy holds aloft the 2013 Australian Open trophy – image Bruce Young
The news this week that Rory McIlroy will appear in consecutive Australian Open Championships in 2025 and 2026 at Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath respectively, has proven to be perfect timing given the huge following and appeal McIlroy now holds in the game.
It would be fair to say that only Tiger Woods in his heyday could draw a bigger crowd to such events as was witnessed in 2009 when Woods participated at the Australian Masters ahead of his rather dramatic fall from grace when revelations of his private life were made public.
McIlroy might not be the number one player in the game at present, but there is little doubting the charismatic appeal he carries wherever he plays, his heroics this year at both the Players Championship and, more especially, the Masters adding even further lustre to his persona, on-course brilliance and legendary status.
McIlroy won the 2013 Australian Open Championship, in which he produced a two-shot swing on Adam Scott at the final hole at Royal Sydney to win by one. His stocks have risen considerably since, having added to his then two major titles with another three, along with almost countless titles worldwide, with earnings just over US$100 million on the PGA Tour alone and standing behind only Woods in that regard.
McIlroy is one of the most exciting players to watch via any medium and Golf Australia and the PGA of Australasia have done well to secure his services for the two years, no doubt his love of the style of golf course which both Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath present, providing the icing on the cake for the Northern Irishman to return to Australia.
McIlroy has shown a liking for playing some of the world’s great courses into which the two venues certainly fit. Last December, he made a fun trip to New Zealand to play some of the new courses north of Auckland, because of the reputation they had already built in their early years and it might be that he combines a trip to this part of the world in December with yet another golfing holiday across the Tasman.
No doubt McIlroy is being paid well for his involvement but given his undoubted pulling power and because of the golfer he has now become, then so he should. Admittedly, the appearance money factor in world golf is perhaps not at the crazy level it was several years ago when regular event prizemoney was nowhere near the level it is now, with players now being suitably recompensed for their performances at the elite level.
In the ideal world, it would be nice to think McIlroy and his management have been sympathetic in that regard but irrespective of what he is receiving, few deserve it more. Whether there is enough in the kitty for the securing of Australia’s leading players is another matter but that is for another discussion.
Although the purse of the Australian Open is not expected to rise significantly just to accommodate McIlroy he is not here to win prizemoney but rather to continue to build on the great legacy he is developing by winning significant titles on some of the game’s great layouts.
Some may question the cost of having McIlroy in Australia. But, that he is prepared to make the time in his schedule just to be here is reward enough for Australian golf fans and the crowds that will no doubt flock to the Australian Open on the sandbelt over the next two years to witness one of the game’s greatest of all time near the peak of his career will, surely, justify any expense involved.
Australasia fields eight PGA Championship starters
Jason Day during his 2018 Wells Fargo Championship win at Quail Hollow – image courtesy of Getty Images
The late addition of Ryan Fox brings to eight the Australasian contingent to contest this week’s PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Golf Club in Charlotte, North Carolina.
In world ranking order, Min Woo Lee, Jason Day, Adam Scott, Cam Davis, Ryan Fox, Karl Vilips, Cam Smith and Elvis Smylie will tee it up at the venue which has played host to the Kemper Open and Wells Fargo Championship on the PGA Tour, the 2017 PGA Championship and in 2022 the Presidents Cup.
Originally designed by George Cobb when built in 1960, Quail Hollow Golf Club has undergone work by Arnold Palmer and Tom Fazio since and is generally considered one of the finest layouts on the PGA Tour schedule.
Rory McIlroy has dominated proceedings at Quail Hollow over the years, winning his first PGA Tour title in 2010 and then again in 2015, 2021 and 2024 and lost a playoff in 2012. McIlroy, though, could only manage 22nd place in the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow although the event was then played in August rather than mid-May.
Of the Australasian contingent in this year’s championship, Jason Day has won previously around Quail Hollow, his victory coming in 2018. Day was also 9th at the PGA Championship held here and was 4th in the Wells Fargo event last year so his form around Quail Hollow is very good but the uncertainty around his health is of some concern for his fans.
Four starts ago, Min Woo Lee made his PGA Tour breakthrough with his win in Houston but in the three starts since there has not been much to get excited about. He is an amazing talent but might be found wanting this week.
Adam Scott finished 5th at Quail Hollow in 2023 and has made eight of ten cuts in 2025 but he has seldom threatened to contend so it would be quite a surprise, albeit a pleasant one, if he was to do so this week. He has six top tens in 24 PGA Championship starts but it is hard to imagine he will add another this week.
Cam Davis finished 4th at the PGA Championship two years ago but with five missed cuts in his last eight starts he has struggled after what had been a solid start to 2025. In three starts at Quail Hollow, he has a best of 26th.
For obvious reasons, Cam Smith’s world ranking belies his capabilities. In nine starts in this event, he has just one top ten to his name, and his recent form in LIV Golf events has been below his best, so I can’t get too excited about his prospects. He missed the cut in his only non-Liv start this year at the Masters.
Elvis Smylie and recent PGA Tour winner, Karl Vilips, make their PGA Championship debuts, and their performance will be watched with interest from that aspect alone.
Ryan Fox won last week on the PGA Tour for the first time and it will be interesting to see how that increased self-belief and confidence transpires into his performance this week.
Interestingly, Fox will play the PGA Championship for the 7th occasion and while he has seldom contended he has missed only one cut in those six previous starts, so his newfound status might assist in something considerably better.
I like defending champion Xander Schauffele this week, given his two runner-up finishes at Quail Hollow of late and improving performances in PGA Tour starts since a slow start to the year. Some of the betting agencies are offering what appears to be good value for the world number four.
Players
Ryan Fox’s breakthrough PGA Tour victory earns PGA Championship start
New Zealander Ryan Fox’s breakthrough win on the PGA Tour at Myrtle Beach in South Carolina this morning, earned the 38 year old a cheque for US$720,000, taking his earnings for the PGA Tour season to US$1.2 million, but the victory has a far greater meaning than even the significant prizemoney.
Most importantly, the win provides Fox with full status on the PGA Tour for at least the next two years and thus providing the luxury of security of tenure during that time, a start at this coming week’s PGA Championship, access to the PGA Tour’s Signature events offering the chance to compete for vast amounts of prizemoney and an improvement to inside the top 70 in the world ranking.
Fox’s previous best world ranking was 23rd so he is still well short of those heights he enjoyed near the end of 2022, but that he has broken through on the PGA Tour adds yet another milestone to the already significant career of Ryan Fox.
Fox has now won four DP World Tour events, one PGA Tour event and three Australasian Tour titles in addition to several others on lesser tours and so is proving to be a truly worldwide player.
Admittedly, most of the stars of the PGA Tour were playing the Signature Truist Championship in Philadelphia, but that will matter little to Fox, given the spoils that come with this victory.
Until this week, Fox had been struggling for much of the 2025 year with just two top twenty finishes in the 8 PGA Tour starts before outlasting McKenzie Hughes and Harry Higgs in a three-way playoff at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club.
Interestingly, it was on this same golf course where Fox had produced his previous best finish on the PGA Tour when finishing 4th at the Myrtle Beach Classic last year.
Fox began his final round two behind Higgs and one behind Hughes but a closing nine of 32 for a round of 65 set up the chance of a playoff. Playing two groups behind, Hughes took the outright lead when he birdied the 15th and 16th but a wild drive at the 72nd hole led to a bogey and the trio were tied at 15 under par.
At the first extra hole, both Fox and Hughes pulled their tee shots, Hughes bouncing back from the trees into the fairway while Fox was left with a tricky shot from the left rough which he needed to turn from right to left if he was to get anywhere near the hole. He was unable to do so but found the fringe just off the back right of the green although some 60 feet from the hole, and with Hughes and Higgs some 15 and 25 feet from the hole with their approaches, it appeared Fox might be in trouble.
Then would come a superb pitch and run down the green by Fox, which never really looked like missing, and, with Higgs and Hughes unable to convert, the title was Fox’s.
“A playoff is probably a little different mindset,” said Fox when asked to describe the nature of the playoff victory. “A bit more like match-play. Obviously, I knew the two guys had pretty good birdie chances. I just wanted to give the chip a run at it.
“I had a really similar line in regulation and missed the putt right. My caddie, Dean, said to me, Remember, this doesn’t break that much. So I just kind of aimed straight at it, and I hit the spot I wanted to hit, which is always a nice thing. About 8 foot out. To be honest, it never looked like it was going anywhere else, and the rest of it is a bit of a blur from there.
“Very rewarding. I haven’t transitioned probably as well as I would have liked over to the PGA TOUR. It was a tough year last year. I managed to just keep my card. It’s been a scratchy start this year as well.
“I always deep down felt like I could compete with the guys out here. Just haven’t been able to put it together. I was very happy to do it this week and give myself a chance on Sunday was nice again. I’ve been in that position a bunch of times over on DP. It’s an uncomfortable feeling, but it’s also a good feeling. You know that’s where you want to be.
“I’ve had some pretty good shots down the stretch over in Europe. It was nice to do the same thing here. Regardless if I would have come out with a win or not today, I was really happy with how I played, and I could have taken a lot out of it. To get that win is extra special.”
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Lucas Herbert adds 6th professional win in Japan
Lucas Herbert – image Asian Tour
Lucas Herbert has today won his 6th event as a professional, securing previous titles on the DP World Tour, PGA, Australasian, and now Asian Tours with his five-shot win at the Asian/Japan Tour’s International Series Japan event in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo.
Herbert recorded a total of 23 birdies and four eagles throughout the 72 holes, an eagle at the 72nd hole today from 25 feet, putting the seal on an emphatic victory in which he had led or co-led at the end of each day beginning with his amazing start on day one where he reeled off five birdies and an eagle in his opening seven holes.
Herbert has been in fine form in 2025 despite not winning until today but he has accumulated significant earnings, his win today and the resultant US$360,000 taking his earnings in the first 4.5 months of the year beyond US$5 million.
Herbert was overlooked by the PGA of America for an invitation to next week’s PGA Championship, an event in which his current form and standing in the game perhaps justifies a place in the field for the second major of the year but he continues to build on his standing as one of Australia’s best and his time will come.
Herbert began the final day tied with Korea’s Younghan Song and Yuta Sugiura but a final round of 64 saw him win by five with American Cameron Tringale a shot surther back in 4th place.
“I was thinking about it down on the 18th green, that finish yesterday really set it up,” said Herbert referring to his strong finish on Saturday which included two eagles in his last three holes. “It would have been much tougher, I think, to play the group in front, or maybe two groups in front, had I parred in and to try and come back from behind today,” said Herbert.
“Being able to tie the lead last night, and sleep thinking that I didn’t have to chase anything down today, was a big factor. And then, very happy with the way I played today, I think it was the low round of the day, so that’s always going to make it hard to beat when you start the day tied for the lead.”
“I’ve played really well this year, and I think the driver was a big part of this success. So, I’ve got to thank Tom Davies, who works on my clubs. He was the one who put it in my hands. I had other thoughts of what I might be using this year and he encouraged me to give it a go. It seemed to have worked out pretty well,” said Herbert.
“The way I’ve been playing this year, it’s been building to get a win at some point. So, it’s nice to get it done here, especially in Japan, which is one of my favourite places. It’s nice to feel like some of the hard work that I put in has paid off. Holding that trophy is a pretty good feeling.”
Herbert takes the lead in the International Series standings after two events and is now in second place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
New Zealand’s Nick Voke in 12th place and Queenslander Jed Morgan in 14th place were the next best of the Australasians in the US$2 million event.
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Australasians well placed in LPGA Tour event in New Jersey
Stephanie Kyriacou – just one from the lead – file photo LPGA/Getty Images
Australians Stephanie Kyriacou, Hira Naveed and Minjee Lee and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko are very much in contention as the LPGA’s Mizuho Americas Open at the Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey reaches its halfway stage.
Kyriacou is just one off the pace set by Korea’s Somi Lee, and Americans Nelly Korda and Andrea Lee, while Minjee Lee and Ko are at 5 under and just three off the lead as the event enters the weekend in the shadows of the Statue of Liberty.
Kyriacou is in her 4th season on the LPGA Tour and with two top 6 finishes already this season, she is well placed to contend for her first LPGA Tour title.
Like all players, the 24-year-old battled cool and damp conditions but felt she might have gotten the better side of the draw.
“It was a little bit easier than I thought but not easy. So that’s just — I thought we were going to have rain all day. I mean, I only had it for probably half the round in total, so wasn’t as bad, but, yeah, it’s not ideal.
“I think I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing. I started doing a couple new things, like playing different games within my round, so I’m going to kind of stick to that and whatever happens, happens.”
Perth’s Naveed has missed her last two cuts but, after consecutive rounds of 69 is well placed to improve on her previous best finish this season of 28th. The 27-year-old is in her second LPGA Tour season but, until this week, has struggled to produce the sort of form that saw her finish runner-up early in her first season.
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Lucas Herbert continues strong 2025 in Japan
Lucas Herbert in action during round two – image courtesy of Asian Tour
Despite his significant success in LIV Golf and other events over the past few months, Lucas Herbert was perhaps unfairly overlooked by the PGA of America when it came to inclusion in the field for next week’s PGA Championship. Still, he has put that behind him with an outstanding start to the Asian Tour’s International Series Japan event in Chiba Prefecture.
At the halfway stage, Herbert has a one shot lead over Korea’s Younghan Song and Japan’s Shunya Takehasu in the US2 million event being played at the Caledonian Golf Club outside of Tokyo but it is not the margin of lead but the manner in which Herbert has played the opening 36 holes that has been so impressive.
Through seven holes of his opening round on Thursday, Herbert was 7 under par with five birdies and an eagle and although the momentum slowed a little, his round of 62 that day had him in the lead by two and when he added three early birdies on day two, it appeared as if he might well spreadeagle the field.
The balance of round two however, would be a mixture of five birdies, four bogeys, and a double bogey to finish with a 2 under 69 and the lead when he finished his morning round.
No-one was able to catch the 29 year old as the day wore on and so he will take the lead into the weekend as he looks to add to his already significant earnings in 2025 having finished once runner-up and 4th on two occasions in seven starts in LIV Golf events and has earnings close to US$5 million.
Amongst Herbert’s five wins internationally is a previous win in Japan at the ISPS Handa Championship in 2023 while still playing the DP World Tour so success in Japan is not new to him, and given the brilliance of his play to date this week another is a strong possibility.
NSW’s Travis Smyth and New Zealand’s Nick Voke are the next best of the Australasian brigade in a share of 7th place and four shots from Herbert’s lead.
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Vilips and Smylie PGA Championship debutantes
Elvis Smylie – plays first US Major – image Australian Golf Media
The field for the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been finalised with two Australians getting the chance to play the event for the first occasion when it gets underway on Thursday 15th May.
Elvis Smylie and Karl Vilips have played their way into the field courtesy of Smylie’s special invitation category due to his success on the PGA Tour of Australasia’s Order of Merit allowing him play his second major championship following a start at last year’s Open Championship while Vilips’ recent breakthrough PGA Tour win in Puerto Rico sees him play his second major following a start at the 2023 US Open.
Smylie has put together a couple of solid finishes in events on the DP World Tour in recent weeks while Vilips has struggled since his win in Puerto Rico in March, missing three of four cuts in that time.
For both players, however, the start gives them the opportunity to showcase their considerable talents against one of the strongest fields in the game, and, for Smylie, a chance to play a PGA Tour event in the US for the first time.
Smylie and Vilips will join fellow Australians (in world ranking order) Min Woo Lee, Jason Day, Adam Scott, Cam Davis and Cam Smith, Day having won this event in 2015, not long before attaining the world number one position.
FIELD
Scottie Scheffler back where he belongs
Scottie Scheffler – image PGA of America
At this point last year, Scottie Scheffler had won four PGA Tour events and been runner-up on one other occasion. To date in 2025 there have been no wins but in his last three events there has been plenty of evidence to suggest a first win is at hand.
A runner-up finish in Houston, a 4th place finish at the Masters and an 8th place finish at the RBC Heritage in his last three starts have all pointed to a return to the sort of form which has seen him dominate world golf over the past three years and in Dallas this week he appears on track for that first win of the year.
Through 36 holes of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson at the TPC Craig Ranch in the northern suburbs of Dallas, Scheffler has established a six shot lead. Although many in the field have yet to complete or, in a few cases, even start their second round, the lead he enjoys is likely to stand up when the balance of the field complete their second rounds on Saturday morning (Dallas time).
Play was delayed for over six hours in the afternoon due to inclement weather and then darkness, leaving many players still pursuing a place in the weekend field. The cut appeared likely to be 5 or 6 under.
Scheffler added a second round of 63 to his opening 61 to be six ahead of American Sam Stevens who has yet to win on the PGA Tour and eight ahead of Jhonattan Vegas and Ricky Castillo.
“I feel like my game has been trending in the right direction,” said Scheffler. “I had some good starts recently. I had a good start at the Masters, solid start, and then I had a chance here in Houston.
“Overall, I had a decent week in Hilton Head. I didn’t have a great Sunday, but overall I played some pretty solid golf. So I definitely feel like my game is trending in the right direction.
“This tournament definitely means a lot to me. I haven’t won Colonial yet, so I’m not even close to the DFW (Dallas Fort Worth) double — is that what we’re calling it?
“Going into the weekend, I’m just going to do my best to stay focused, execute. It’s going to be a lot of fun to play here and have a chance to win. I put myself in good position the last two days, and I’m looking forward to getting out there and competing again tomorrow.”
Ryan Fox is at 6 under but has played only six holes of his second round as he chases weekend play for the 6th time in nine PGA Tour starts in 2025, Fox currently in 130th place in the 2025 FedEx Cup standings, while recent winner Karl Vilips, the Australian PGA Tour rookie, is at 5 under for the tournament through just three holes of round two so has some work to do if he is to be around for the final 36 holes.
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Lucas Herbert stars in LIV Golf Mexico event
Lucas Hebert in action this week – image LIVGOLF
An outstanding final round of 10 under par 61, has given Australian Lucas Herbert a share of second place at the LIV Golf event at the Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico.
Herbert, whose final round brilliance was four shots better than any other player recorded on Sunday, finished three shots behind Chile’s Joaquin Niemann and in a share of second with Bryson DeChambeau.
Herbert started the final round ten shots behind the leader DeChambeau but unleashed a powerful finish which included three birdies and a hole out from the fairway eagle in his final four holes to not only aid his cause but assist his ‘Ripper’ teammates to a share of second place in the team’s event.
“Just one of those rounds where everything comes together,” said Herbert. “I thought I played pretty decent the last two days, I just didn’t get many breaks, and I just felt like today every time there was a line ball sort of thing I got the right kick and I’d make a putt where I needed to or just anything — just that sort of stuff.
“It just kept the momentum going through the round. Look, I played great, really enjoyed feeling everything I felt the last few holes, but it’s just one of those rounds where it all just clicks for you, and it was a pretty cool feeling to do it at an event like this.
“The last five or six holes, literally everything went through my mind. I could shoot 59, I could win the tournament, Ripper could win from a team perspective, I could make a bunch of money, I could win and get into the spots for the U.S. Open and British Open. There was a stack of different things that I was like, all these are possibilities. I’m like, yeah, on top of a 59, as well.”
Herbert earns a cheque for US$1,875,000 in addition to the US$375,000 he receives for his share of the second place the Rippers Team finished in the team event.
Cameron Smith, who began the final day just one behind DeChambeau’s lead, struggled to a final round 71 to share 5th place with Tyrell Hatton.
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