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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Large field of Australiasians in Senior PGA field
Steve Alker with his 2022 win while on debut in the event – image PGA of America
The PGA Tour Champions holds its second consecutive major when the Senior PGA Championship is played this week at the famed Congressional Country Club in Maryland outside of Washington DC.
With Angel Cabrera taking out last week’s Regions Traditions event in Birmingham, Alabama, the tour for the over fifties heads north and east to USA capital where nearly 10% of the field are Australians or New Zealanders.
Steve Alker, Richard Green, Mark Hensby, Michael Wright, Rod Pampling, Cameron Percy, Stuart Appleby, Brendan Jones, Scott Hend, Michael Campbell, David Bransdon, Andre Stolz and Mick Stuart, all tee it up in the US$3.5 million event, won previously by only two Australasians, Peter Thomson (1984) and Steve Alker (2022)
In last year’s event at Harbor Shores in Michigan, Richard Green also finished runner-up to England’s Richard Bland.
Brendan Jones is the only first-timer in the event amongst the Australians, the 50-year-old in his rookie season on the PGA Tour Champions.
Steve Alker won the event in 2022 and finished 5th in 2023, but did not play in 2024 due to family reasons.
Mick Smith is perhaps the odd man out in terms of name players in that group, the former leading amateur back in Australia, now a teaching professional in Wisconsin but a player good enough to have qualified for this event and a US Senior Open previously.
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Scottie Scheffler asserts his domination with five shot PGA win
Major # 3 for Scottie Scheffler – image courtesy of PGA of America
Stuttering finishes over Quail Hollow’s demanding closing stretch of holes have cost Australians Adam Scott and Cam Davis a place inside the top ten of the PGA Championship. The pair finished in a share of 19th place at 2 under when both players had been 6 and 5 under, respectively, with just a few holes to play and vying for a top-ten finish or better.
The Green Mile, as it is known, is statistically the toughest finishing stretch in PGA Tour golf and it proved to be the case today with not only Scott and Davis struggling but for several others looking to close out the event with a strong finish and, in the case of Jon Rahm, a potential win.
The winner would be Scottie Scheffler who confirmed (if indeed it needed any further validation) his place at the top of the game with a five shot win over Bryson DeChambeau, Davis Riley and Harrison English, securing his 15th PGA Tour title and his third major championship to go with his two previous Masters victories.
“Finishing off a major championship is always difficult, and I did a good job of staying patient on the front nine,” said the champion. “I didn’t have my best stuff, but I kept myself in it, and I stepped up on the back nine and had a really good nine holes.
“I’m just really proud of the way I fought this week. I was battling my swing the first couple days. I didn’t have as good a prep week as I wanted to. It was a battle out there.
Teddy (caddie) did a good job of keeping me in it, and Randy (coach) helped me figure out things on my swing. Morris (conditioner) helped get my body right. It was a real team effort this week. I’m proud of the whole squad. Looking forward to celebrating this one.”
Adam Scott moved into a share of second place when he birdied three of his first ten holes to go with one bogey to be at 6 under and although still three back of the leader Scheffler at that stage, things looked promising for the Queenslander to perhaps produce his best PGA Championship finish.
That was until he made a mess of the reachable par 4 14th, missed the green right at the par 3 17th and took three to get down and then, after a superb drive at the last, pulled his second, found the penalty area and eventually double bogeyed to finish in a share of 19th place.
Davis, too, was on track to possibly equal or better his previous best in this championship of 4th place when he birdied the 15th to move to 5 under for the tournament. However, he, too, would fall victim to the closing stretch with bogies at his last three holes to finish at 2 under for the tournament and in 19th position.
After contending early in the week, New Zealand’s Ryan Fox battled through the front nine today in 2 over, but produced the almost obligatory birdie at the driveable 14th, although a double bogey at the par 3 17th after finding the water from the tee proved costly. Fox would though birdie the last to finish at 1 under and in a share of 28th place, no doubt with mixed emotions for the week, given his great win last week and what had been a promising start to this week.
Given the hype and impact of his breakthrough win last week however, it is perhaps understandable that it would have been hard to follow up with another week in strong contention, and his performance overall carries some merit
Elvis Smylie was the only other Australasian to make the weekend but rounds of 77 and 74 over the final 36 holes would see him finish in 72nd position.
What can be said about Scheffler however, with yet another win of three shots or more in his three major titles to date.
Not since Tiger Woods great reign between 1997 and 2008 have we seen such dominance in the game and given the manner in which he goes about his business, there is surely a lot more to come, including major championships. The possibility of him joining the truly greats in the history of the game is now a genuine possibility.
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Scott heads Australasians but Scheffler takes control at Quail Hollow
Adam Scott in action during round three – image Darren Carroll PGA of America
Adam Scott has emerged as the leading Australasian after the third round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Golf Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, moving one ahead of Ryan Fox and Cam Davis, courtesy of his 3rd round 69 to be at 4 under and seven shots off the lead held now by Scottie Scheffler.
Playing his 25th PGA Championship since his debut in 2001, Scott has recorded six previous top tens in that time but another round of 69 or better tomorrow might well see him adding yet another top ten and perhaps significantly better.
“I think I played solid,” said Scott. “I feel like I’ve played solid all week. It’s been hard work on the greens. I’ve had a few three-putts, and it feels a bit costly at the moment when it’s so bunched up like this. But overall, my game feels really solid. I just need a day where the putts get rolling in tomorrow.
“I’ve just kind of fought being comfortable all week (with the putter). You’re good for a few holes and then you hit one surprisingly short or something. It just knocks the confidence around a little bit, and it’s those emotions I’m trying to manage the best I can out there.”
Scott currently shares 13th place and although seven shots from Scheffler, he is just four shots out of second place and so if he is able to find a way to put a low round together on day four, then he might well end up well inside the top ten.
At the age of 44, Scott is still getting it out there from the tee with an average of 317 yards in the measurable driving holes to be in 14th place in that regard.
Fox began the day four off the lead and at one stage (though 8 holes) moved within one of a second-round leader, Jhonattan Vegas, who bogeyed his opening two holes. Fox, however, played his next ten holes in 3 over to finish at 3 under for the championship and in a share of 17th place along with Cam Davis and others.
Davis, playing with Scott today, struggled to the turn today in 3 over but then reeled off a closing nine of 4 under 32, including a pitch in for eagle from 60 yards at the par 5 15th to finish at 3 under and in that share of 17th place.
The only other Australasian to make the cut was Queensland’s Elvis Smylie, who found the going tough on day three, but making the cut in his first PGA Tour event in the US was a considerable achievement for the talented 22-year-old.
The tournament now does however appear to be at the mercy of Scottie Scheffler whose round of 65 was the best of the day and moved him from three off the lead at the start of the day to now three ahead and given the manner in which he played today, then a 15th PGA Tour title and a third major appear likely.
Scheffler’s round was highlighted by a brilliant 3 wood to 3 feet at the driveable par 4 14th hole, which he converted for eagle and then proceeded to add three more birdies to finish, playing his final five holes in 5 under par to break clear of the field.
When asked what a third major would mean to him, Scheffler responded; “ It would mean a lot. “You know, these tournaments are very important to us, and you work your whole life to have a chance to win major tournaments, any tournament for that matter, and tomorrow I have a good opportunity to go out there and try and win the golf tournament.
“But it’s going to take another really good round. There’s a lot of great players chasing me on the leaderboard and someone is going to put up a great round and it’s up to me to go out there and have another really good round and finish off the tournament. Looking forward to the challenge.”
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Ryan Fox remains in contention at PGA Championship
Ryan Fox – in action this week – image courtesy of PGA of America
Ryan Fox has rebounded from a slow start to the second round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow with two late birdies, including a delightful approach to the last, to move within four of the lead held by Jhonattan Vegas.
Vegas, who produced a stunning finish on Thursday with five birdies in his last six holes, fell victim to the dangerous 18th hole today when, ahead by four shots, double bogeyed, opening the door for many golfers to move into genuine contention for the title.
Fox was amongst those when, after bogeys at his second and third holes, he fought back for a round of even par 71 to be at 4 under for the event and within striking distance of Vegas and just two shots out of second place.
His approach to the last off a stunning drive finished 2 feet from the hole, and the resultant birdie has the 38-year-old heading into the weekend with some nice momentum.
Fox shared 7th place when he finished his round and although he may drop a place when play finally draws to a close, he is nicely placed to improve further over the final two rounds.
Adam Scott and Cam Davis are the best of the Australians in the field, the pair tied in a share of 28th place at 2 under and six off the lead but only four out of second place.
Despite dropping three shots over his closing two holes, PGA Championship debutante Elvis Smylie has made the cut on the number, an impressive showing in his first involvement in a major championship in the US.
Min Woo Lee, Jason Day, Cam Smith and Karl Villips will have the weekend off to ponder thier efforts.
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Richard Green leads Steve Alker in PGA Tour Champions major
Richard Green – photo PGA of America
While the world of regular male golf is playing its second major of the year, the PGA Tour Champions also have a major on their schedule this week, and Australasian golf is well and truly to the fore, with Richard Green one ahead of Steve Alker at the halfway stage of the Regions Traditions in Birmingham, Alabama.
The event has been played as one of the five majors on the PGA Tour Champions since its inception in 1989 with Jack Nicklaus (4) and Steve Stricker (3) the most prolific winners of the event.
Green led after a first round of 63 on Thursday and today added a round of 68 to lead by one at 12 under over Alker with another three shots back to Y.E Yang.
54 year old Green, who is still looking for his first win on the PGA Tour Champions despite some impressive performances, including six runner-up finishes, birdied his final two holes in today’s second round to finish ahead of Alker, who was playing nearly two hours behind.
“It felt a little bit like probably what I should have got out of the day,” said Green, referring to his strong finish. “I hit a lot of great iron shots and set up a lot of birdie chances and just missed ’em all. They’re a bit tricky, some of the reads today, so I was pleased to have finished well.
“Good golf’s been brewing for a little while so it was nice to be hitting good iron shots and setting up putting opportunities. If I can keep doing that through the weekend, I’ll be happy.”
Greg Chalmers is the next best of the Australians in a share of 13th place.
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Cam Davis shares opening round lead at Quail Hollow
Cam Davis in action today – image courtesy of PGA of America
Sydney’s Cam Davis, now a resident of Seattle in the US, has a share of the opening round lead late on day one of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, his round of 5 under 66 leaving him tied with Ryan Gerard and one clear of a group of five players, including New Zealand’s Ryan Fox.
Playing in the afternoon field, Davis, whose best finish in a major championship came in this event when 4th in 2023, produced seven birdies and two bogeys including one at his final hole and while the score is not his best in a PGA Championship (that came with a final round of 65 in 2023), it was an encouraging effort especially given his most recent form has been below his best.
Davis missed five consecutive cuts through March and April and, while not getting ahead of himself, he is delighted with the manner in which he handled the opening day.
“Really good,” said Davis when asked to describe his thoughts on the round. “I haven’t been having the best results on the course lately over the last few months and been working really hard to turn that around, and to see the first real sign that it’s turning around happen in the first round of a major, it’s very encouraging.
“I actually played really well at the beginning of the year and felt like I was playing well enough to actually win an event. I was constantly in contention, and then it just kind of left me.
“It’s just constantly trying to go back to things that have worked, trying to keep the head in a place where you’re not feeling like you’re banging your head against the wall all the time. It’s letting it organically come, good processes, good routines, all those little one percenters add up to good golf eventually, and I feel like this week has been a week of good preparation.
“But yeah, rolled a lot of putts that went in and kept the momentum going, and I feel like for a major, when you’re playing a difficult golf course, if you can do that, you can keep things moving forward.
“Very happy with my work today. But it’s still a four-round event. But you can definitely help yourself a lot by having a good first round.”
The two-time PGA Tour winner and former Australian Open and Australian Amateur Champion continues to build platforms for himself in the US, and while this effort today is a reversal of his form of late, he is capable of big things in the game.
Adam Scott moved to 4 under par and was bogey-free through 15 holes before bogeys at the 16th and 17th holes proved costly, but at 2 under and just three off the lead, he is well enough placed, especially with a morning tee time on day two. Playing in his 25th PGA Championship, Scott is one of the event’s most experienced participants, and his solid start is encouraging for what lies ahead.
Australian PGA Champion and PGA Championship debutant, Elvis Smylie, produced an impressive start with a round of 70 to be in a share of 30th place.
Of the other Australians in the field, Jason Day has 2 over 73, Min Woo Lee 74, Cam Smith 77, and Karl Vilips 77.
The cut appears as if it will fall at 2 over 3 over tomorrow.
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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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