Ryan Fox alongside Carmen and Javier Ballesteros – photo Getty Images – article by DP World Tour
Ryan Fox has won the 2022 Seve Ballesteros Award after being voted Player of the Year for last season by his fellow professionals on the DP World Tour.
The 36-year-old becomes the first New Zealander to win the prestigious award since Michael Campbell received the honour in 2005, and it comes after an outstanding season during which he won twice and finished in a career-best second place on the DP World Tour Rankings presented by Rolex.
Fox polled 50% of the votes cast in total by the DP World Tour members, with DP World Tour Rankings winner Rory McIlroy taking second place ahead of the 2022 U.S. Open Champion Matt Fitzpatrick in third.
The Kiwi was presented with the trophy by one of Seve’s sons Javier and his daughter Carmen, both of whom travelled to this week’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour – a tournament won by Seve himself in 1992 – to officially welcome Fox to the illustrious list of winners.
Fox started 2022 in fine style, picking up his second DP World Tour title at the Ras al Khaimah Classic in February before an emotional victory at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in St Andrews in October.
The 2016 Challenge Tour graduate dedicated his victory at the Home of Golf to the late cricketing great Shane Warne, whom he paired up with in the popular Pro-Am format on numerous occasions, including finishing runners-up together in the 2021 contest.
In addition to his pair of victories, Fox showed remarkable consistency to notch up four second place finishes – at the Soudal Open, Dutch Open, Horizon Irish Open and the Nedbank Golf Challenge – as well as a further four top tens.
His excellent form led to a meteoric rise up the Official World Golf Ranking as he climbed from outside the top 200 into the world’s top 50 for the first time, peaking at a career-best 23rd after his victory at the Old Course.
The Player of the Year Award, named after the legendary Seve Ballesteros, last year amalgamated with the former Golfer of the Year award to become one singular honour voted for by the players, helping further commemorate the Spaniard’s incredible legacy.
Fox said: “It’s probably not something that I expected ever in my career. I would like to say it’s something I dreamed of, but you look at those names on the trophy and I probably don’t count myself as one of those. That is pretty cool, and to have Javier and Carmen come out and present it made it even more special.
“Last year I thought I had a chance but a few other guys played pretty well, Rory, Matt, Jon Rahm, especially at the end of the year. So when Keith Pelley told me I was pretty shocked and obviously pretty chuffed as well. To have your peers vote for you makes it that extra bit special.
“Obviously Dunhill Links was a big highlight for me last year, to win around the Home of Golf, it doesn’t really get any better. I shared the experience with Shane Warne for the previous four or five Dunhills that I played, and it was a bit sad without him there last year. To honour him that way made it even more special.
“Seve is such an icon of golf, and I’m a bit of a golf nut. I knew the history of Seve but probably didn’t quite understand then, growing up in New Zealand, quite the influence he had over here. It’s cool to hear the stories from some of the older guys that played with him, but to have my name on the Seve Ballesteros Award, it’s kind of surreal. It’s pretty cool to be part of a little bit of history in that regard.”
Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the DP World Tour, said: “Ryan’s form throughout 2022 was nothing short of outstanding. His two wins were undoubtedly the highlight, but to record a further eight top tens shows a remarkable level of consistency that clearly impressed his peers.
“Ryan is not only an immensely popular member of the DP World Tour, but also someone who cares deeply for the Tour as is illustrated by the valuable work he does, and the intelligent opinions he offers, as a member of our Tournament Committee.
“I also want to say thank you to Javier and Carmen Ballesteros for making the effort to travel to Dubai to present the award to Ryan. It meant a lot to him and to every one of us at the DP World Tour to have them there to represent their father.”
Javier Ballesteros said: “Well, I’m very happy that Ryan got the award. I think it’s important that Ryan got it with two wins, and of course he played a full season on the DP World Tour. It left me very happy, considering he’s a fantastic guy as well.
“For me, it’s very important and we are very proud to have our father’s name on this award. It’s a prize that is given by the players and to have his name on the award, it’s a very good way to keep his legacy alive.”
Ryan Fox wins Seve Ballesteros Award
Ryan Fox alongside Carmen and Javier Ballesteros – photo Getty Images – article by DP World Tour
Ryan Fox has won the 2022 Seve Ballesteros Award after being voted Player of the Year for last season by his fellow professionals on the DP World Tour.
The 36-year-old becomes the first New Zealander to win the prestigious award since Michael Campbell received the honour in 2005, and it comes after an outstanding season during which he won twice and finished in a career-best second place on the DP World Tour Rankings presented by Rolex.
Fox polled 50% of the votes cast in total by the DP World Tour members, with DP World Tour Rankings winner Rory McIlroy taking second place ahead of the 2022 U.S. Open Champion Matt Fitzpatrick in third.
The Kiwi was presented with the trophy by one of Seve’s sons Javier and his daughter Carmen, both of whom travelled to this week’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour – a tournament won by Seve himself in 1992 – to officially welcome Fox to the illustrious list of winners.
Fox started 2022 in fine style, picking up his second DP World Tour title at the Ras al Khaimah Classic in February before an emotional victory at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in St Andrews in October.
The 2016 Challenge Tour graduate dedicated his victory at the Home of Golf to the late cricketing great Shane Warne, whom he paired up with in the popular Pro-Am format on numerous occasions, including finishing runners-up together in the 2021 contest.
In addition to his pair of victories, Fox showed remarkable consistency to notch up four second place finishes – at the Soudal Open, Dutch Open, Horizon Irish Open and the Nedbank Golf Challenge – as well as a further four top tens.
His excellent form led to a meteoric rise up the Official World Golf Ranking as he climbed from outside the top 200 into the world’s top 50 for the first time, peaking at a career-best 23rd after his victory at the Old Course.
The Player of the Year Award, named after the legendary Seve Ballesteros, last year amalgamated with the former Golfer of the Year award to become one singular honour voted for by the players, helping further commemorate the Spaniard’s incredible legacy.
Fox said: “It’s probably not something that I expected ever in my career. I would like to say it’s something I dreamed of, but you look at those names on the trophy and I probably don’t count myself as one of those. That is pretty cool, and to have Javier and Carmen come out and present it made it even more special.
“Last year I thought I had a chance but a few other guys played pretty well, Rory, Matt, Jon Rahm, especially at the end of the year. So when Keith Pelley told me I was pretty shocked and obviously pretty chuffed as well. To have your peers vote for you makes it that extra bit special.
“Obviously Dunhill Links was a big highlight for me last year, to win around the Home of Golf, it doesn’t really get any better. I shared the experience with Shane Warne for the previous four or five Dunhills that I played, and it was a bit sad without him there last year. To honour him that way made it even more special.
“Seve is such an icon of golf, and I’m a bit of a golf nut. I knew the history of Seve but probably didn’t quite understand then, growing up in New Zealand, quite the influence he had over here. It’s cool to hear the stories from some of the older guys that played with him, but to have my name on the Seve Ballesteros Award, it’s kind of surreal. It’s pretty cool to be part of a little bit of history in that regard.”
Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the DP World Tour, said: “Ryan’s form throughout 2022 was nothing short of outstanding. His two wins were undoubtedly the highlight, but to record a further eight top tens shows a remarkable level of consistency that clearly impressed his peers.
“Ryan is not only an immensely popular member of the DP World Tour, but also someone who cares deeply for the Tour as is illustrated by the valuable work he does, and the intelligent opinions he offers, as a member of our Tournament Committee.
“I also want to say thank you to Javier and Carmen Ballesteros for making the effort to travel to Dubai to present the award to Ryan. It meant a lot to him and to every one of us at the DP World Tour to have them there to represent their father.”
Javier Ballesteros said: “Well, I’m very happy that Ryan got the award. I think it’s important that Ryan got it with two wins, and of course he played a full season on the DP World Tour. It left me very happy, considering he’s a fantastic guy as well.
“For me, it’s very important and we are very proud to have our father’s name on this award. It’s a prize that is given by the players and to have his name on the award, it’s a very good way to keep his legacy alive.”
Eduard and Singh take NSW Amateur titles
Shyla Singh and Abel Eduard – photo Golf NSW
The New South Wales Amateur titles have been completed at the Pennant Hills Golf Club in Sydney with Kingston Heath member Abel Eduard proving to be somewhat of a giant killer when he accounted for Australia’s current hottest amateur golfer, Harrison Crowe, in the men’s event and Southport Golf Club (Gold Coast) member Shyla Singh defeating her fellow Gold Coaster Godiva Kim to win the women’s title.
Defending champion Crowe, who had been the current NSW Open and Amateur Champion along with the Asia Pacific Amateur title, was up early in his match when he moved two ahead through 13 holes but Eduard fought back to square the match at lunch and then took a 4 up lead within six holes of the resumption in their 36 hole match.
The match would eventually end at the 35th hole with Eduard winning 3&1.
The women’s encounter was a roller coaster affair with both Singh and Kim leading at various stages although Singh would win seven of 13 holes in the latter stages of her match after she too was all square at the halfway mark of the 36 hole final.
Singh would win 4 &3 and achieved some level of atonement for her loss to Sarah Hammett in the final of this very event last year.
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Encouragement continues for Jason Day
A venue where Day has enjoyed considerable success
He might have bogeyed his final hole on each of the opening two days of the Farmers Insurance Open, but Jason Day has continued his recent and encouraging improvement, finding himself in a share of 10th place and although seven shots from the lead of Sam Ryder he is just four shots out of second place as the event enters the weekend at Torrey Pines.
Day played the more demanding of the two layouts at Torrey Pines (The South Course) on day two and in more difficult conditions than those he faced when on the North Course on day one.
Making the turn at 1 over for the day the 35 year old birdied three holes on his way home before finding the water at the par 5 18th and dropping a shot to record a round of 71.
Day has a remarkable record at Torrey Pines with two victories, a runner-up finish and once 3rd in his previous starts in the event and coupled with his success in a Junior World Championship at the venue, then the his liking for the clifftop layouts outside of San Diego is understandable.
Day has improved his world ranking from outside the top 160 in mid-2022 to now 104th in the world which highlights his recent improvement since building a swing to accommodate the ongoing injury issues he has experienced in his career and, while still a long way from his former number one position, there is a lot to like about the way his game is progressing.
Day was the only Australasian to make the cut with Aaron Baddeley, Danny Lee, Cameron Percy, Harrison Endycott and Cam Davis missing out on the chance to play the final 36 holes.
The leader, Ryder, is ahead by three over Brendan Steele, the 33 year old producing a form turnaround to some extent given he has missed three of his last four cuts and is currently 283rd in the world ranking.
Ryder has yet to win on the PGA Tour so this weeks offers an opportunity to do just that.
“Yeah, it feels great,” said Ryder. “The thing I’ve been kind of telling myself is to just try and embrace it. It’s not a position that I’ve been in a lot, you know, so just trying to enjoy it. It’s kind of why we play, so just trying to look around and enjoy the moment.”
Australasian Tour’s 2023 schedule begins on Mornington Peninsula
Todd Sinnott with the 2022 trophy – photo Australian Golf Media
The PGA Tour of Australasia gets its 2023 schedule underway when the TPS Victoria hosted by Geoff Ogilvy gets underway at the Rosebud Country Club’s Composite Course on the Mornington Peninsula.
The event brings together both men and women competing for the same purse and in the same field.
Victorian Todd Sinnott defends what was his first title in five years and just his second in professional golf when defeating Anthony Quayle and Daniel Gale by just one shot this time last year, overcoming a history of injury and illness to display some of the talent he had displayed as ana amateur.
The rest of 2023 wasn’t so productive but a return to a venue which provided such emotional reward for him might just be the spark the long hitter needs.
The event is the first of nine PGA Tour of Australasia events between now and the end of March, highlighted by the New Zealand Open in early March which carries a significantly higher purse then the others. The introduction of events such as that of this week’s does however provide Australasian golfers in particular the chance to compete before taking their games to the world.
The women were led by Wales’ Lydia Hall in 2022 but with Hall not entered this year, the focus will be on arguably Australia’s greatest ever player, Karrie Webb, LPGA Tour golfers, Stephanie Kyriacou and Sarah Jane Smith and last week’s winner on the WAPGA Tour Cassie Porter.
Last year’s leading woman Lydia Hall – not in this week’s field – photo Australian Golf Media
NSW Amateur Fields Decided
Chris Fan – photo David Tease Golf NSW
The match play fields for both the Men’s and Women’s NSW Amateur Championships have been decided following the completion of 36 holes of strokeplay at the Ryde Parramatta and Pennant Hills Golf Clubs in Sydney.
32 men and 16 women will get their head to head match play encounters underway tomorrow, both fields decided following a playoff to decide the last few places in the knockout phase.
The Avondale Golf Club’s Chris Fan emerged the winner of the NSW Medal after Queensland’s Lincoln Morgan was forced to concede at the first extra hole.
Morgan, the brother of 2021 Australian Amateur Champion and 2022 Australian PGA Champion, Jed, overcame a three shot deficit heading into the final day with a round of 68 but was unable to finish things off in the playoff.
In a ten man playoff for the one final place in the 32 man match play field, it was New South Wales Golf Club’s, Jye Halls, who secured his place with a 3 at the first extra hole.
NSW Medal Results
Amongst the women competing for the NSW Women’s Strokeplay Championship the Gold Coast golfer Haruhi Nakatani ran out a comfortable winner over Belinda Ji of the Concord Golf Club.
Nakatani shared the lead after day one but was one of only two players to break 70 in the women’s field on day two, allowing her to claim a three shot victory.
In a three way playoff for the two remaining places in the NSW Women’s Amateur field it would be Michelle Bang and Charlotte Perkins who survived a three women playoff for two spots with Matilda Miels losing out.
NSW Women’s Strokeplay Results
Min Woo Lee now has Augusta National in sights
Min Woo Lee – file photo
Min Woo Lee has fallen just one short of a third DP World Tour victory when finishing one shot behind the winner, Victor Perez of France, at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in Abu Dhabi overnight.
Lee, who shared the 54 hole lead into the final round at the Yas Links Abu Dhabi, recovered from a slow start to his final round with five birdies in eight holes through the middle of his round but a bogey at the 17th was made even worse as it came just ten minutes after Perez had holed a bunker shot for birdie at the same hole to take a two shot lead to the final hole.
Perez would bogey the last but with Lee and Perez’s playing partner and joint runner-up finisher, Sebastian Soderberg, unable to eagle (Lee) or birdie (Soderberg) the last, they fell one short.
The finish will however move Lee just inside the top 50 in the world and open up the opportunity, should he stay there, to play The Masters Augusta in early April.
The leading 50 players in the world in the week prior to the Masters and not otherwise exempt earn the right to play at Augusta National.
Lee finished 16th on debut at the Masters in 2022, just outside those automatically invited back.
Lee’s fellow West Australian, Jason Scrivener, also recorded a fine finish when he played the final nine in 32 today to finish tied for 7th, which along with his runner-up finish at the Australian PGA Championship leaves him in 5th place in the current DP World Tour rankings.
New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier finished 46th and Ryan Fox 65th after Fox had worked his way into contention with a second round of 66.
The winner, Perez, it was his third DP World Tour victory.
“It feels fantastic,” said Perez. “I thought you always need a bit of fortune and there’s always the deciding shots coming down the stretch that can make or break. To hole that bunker shot on 17 is probably going to be a highlight for a little bit I hope. I’m not expecting the guys not to do incredible shots but yeah, I was delighted with that, and six was enough on 18.
“I was actually able to have a nice break. I decided not to play in December to focus on the season ahead with all the objectives that are coming up with the ten cards for the PGA TOUR. There is the Ryder Cup; there is so much going on.
“Last week was a nice glimpse of where my game was at but again, it’s match play. You have a partner that’s going to help you out. Guido (Migliozzi) bailed me out many of times last week where it made me look good and all of a sudden you’re playing your own.
“To come out and put it together for 72 holes on a tough golf course with the wind, having played only one round with cool weather on Friday morning, yeah, I was delighted with the victory.”
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Six Australasians earn Asian Tour status
Jack Thompson – file photo
Six of the 25 Australasians who teed it up on Wednesday in the 90-hole Final Stage of Qualifying for this year’s Asian Tour have gained one of the cards which went to the leading 35 players and ties at the completion of 90 holes at the Lake View Resort and Golf Club, in Hua Hin, Thailand.
South Australian Jack Thompson did best when he led the qualifiers with a total of 22 under par to win by two over China’s Zhengkai Bai and Sydney’s John Lyras.
“This is great, I guess it hasn’t really sunk in yet,” said Thompson who had only just gained a start at the Final Stage by earning one of the last places at Stage One. “It has been a long week, I have been here for a fair few days now, it’s a relief and it’s just nice to win. There is always concern coming into an event if you can do it or not.
“I hadn’t really had the best prep coming in. I had hurt my wrist playing a shot in the Vic PGA last year so I could only hit a bucket of balls in three weeks. It slowly got better and better. Swinging the first qualifier I had no idea, then the next round I worked it out and it carried on from there. I am just super stoked.”
New Zealand’s Nick Voke needed something special in today’s final round to make it through and he was able to do just that with a round of 64 to finish 13th along with Queensland’s Douglas Klein.
Gold Coast’s Jack Murdoch finished 27th while Victorian Thomas Power Horan just managed to scrape through after earning one of the two remaining spots available after a nine man playoff.
The news was not so good for Dimi Papdatos, Queensland’s Aaron Wilkin and New Zealand’s Denzel Ieremia who agonisingly missed one of the last cards by just one shot.
A total of 77 players survived the 72 hole cut yesterday and set out today to gain one of the 35 Tour Cards on offer for the 2023 season, which features 11 events in the first 14 weeks, starting with next month’s star-studded US$5 million Saudi International Powered by SoftBank Investments Advisers.
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Steve Alker picks up where he left off in 2022
Steve Alker – file photo PGA of America Montana Pritchard
If there was any concern about Steve Alker’s stunning 2022 PGA Tour Champions season being an aberration, then his powerful finish to the opening event of 2023 has put an end to any such thoughts.
The New Zealander has finished with a final round of 63 at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship in Hualalai in Hawaii and will finish in a four way share of the runner-up position which, after a slow start to the event on Friday and a stuttering finish to his second round on Saturday, was a reminder of the domination he prevailed over on the PGA Tour Champions last year.
Alker stormed home in 30 including five birdies in his last six holes today to improve from 12th overnight to yet another top three finish and he begins the season with a cheque for US$137,000.
Alker will play the New Zealand Open in Queenstown in early March where many will be keen to see how this long time journeyman but now hugely successful over-fifty phenom will compete against a field of younger Australasian Tour players at the Millbrook Resort but if his consistently good form is anything to go by then he could well challenge for his first New Zealand Open title, after being runner-up on two occasions in earlier years.
The event was won by Steve Stricker who was on 59 watch for much of his second round in the 54 hole event before recording a round of 60 on Saturday and then finishing with a round of 65 today to win by five shots.
Rod Pampling was the only other Australasian in the field and finished tied for 29th.
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Jason Day begins 2023 well in La Quinta
Jason Day – file photo
Jason Day has recorded just two top tens on the PGA Tour in the last twelve months but in his first event of 2023 he has himself nicely positioned at the American Express Championship.
The 35 year old is in a five way share of 3rd place and although five shots from the rookie leader, David Thompson, his improvement is most encouraging.
Day is playing this three course event for just the second occasion in his 15 year PGA Tour career but a second round of 64 over the more demanding Stadium Course layout in Palm Springs saw him improve 24 places to his share of 3rd and although he has yet to play the La Quinta Country Club before the 54 hole cut is made tomorrow, his game appears in fine enough shape to challenge on Sunday.
“It’s nice to be able to get that course out of the way,” said Day referring to the fact that the Stadium Course is typically the most difficult of the three layouts used in the opening 54 holes.
“Got La Quinta tomorrow. So typically, that yields more birdies than these two courses over here. So, but like everyone’s saying, you can’t get ahead of yourself too. Because if you start thinking about it too much you can definitely go out there and just have an average day. So I got to try and stay as focused as possible and just take it as it comes.
“I feel good. I’ve been feeling great actually for a good long while now. So just been kind of seeing myself healthier. I feel like I’m doing the right things. Not only on the golf course, but off the golf course as well. That’s kind of yielded into, I feel like, a better motion at it out here on the golf course.
“Still some of the stuff, the old stuff is in there still, but I kind of got to work through that slowly. Because if I try and press too hard on some of the swing changes the body doesn’t really adapt that quick and can potentially hurt certain areas of your body. But overall this past year to, six months to a year it’s been really, really good for me. So I feel pretty good.”
Day was asked why he decided to play this week when this has not typically been on his schedule.
“Typically in the past I would, if I’m not in Hawaii I would go straight to Torrey. And, I mean, I felt like I was playing like a U.S. Open times a thousand when you go from doing nothing for a month to two months and you go straight to Torrey and you’re playing.
“This way I can come to a tournament like this where typically the conditions are like this and you can kind of see where the game’s at then adjust accordingly going into next week.”
The leader, 23 year old Thompson, is playing his first season on the PGA Tour after graduating via the Korn Ferry Tour last year and will take a two shot lead over Jon Rahm into the final 36 holes.
He has already produced a couple of good finishes in his first few events and joined a select group of golfers to have recorded five eagles in 36 holes in a PGA Tour event.
“I think it has to do a lot with last year,” said Thompson referring to his apparent comfort zone at this level. “Playing on the Korn Ferry Tour and also just playing on some sponsor exemptions out here right when I turned pro. I’m still a rookie, still learning these golf courses, but there is a comfort level to kind of know what to expect at every tournament.
“Watching this tournament for a couple years now I always see the winning score being so low. So, you kind of really don’t have a choice, you just got to keep hitting greens and giving yourself looks and trying to make the putts. I was just fortunate enough to make a lot of putts these first two days. But, yeah, it is easy to stall out, but at the same time, if you just stay present minded and focus on one shot at a time you’ll give yourself a lot of opportunities.”
New Zealand’s Danny Lee is tied for 21st at 9 under and four behind Day, while Harrison Endycott is 34th.
Aaron Baddeley and Cameron Davis are further back and have a task if they are to make the 54 hole cut tomorrow.
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Jason Scrivener contending again in Abu Dhabi
Jason Scrivener – file photo PGA of Australia
Perth’s Jason Scrivener, a runner-up in this same event in 2021, finds himself in a share of 3rd place and just one off the lead at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship as the event enters the weekend at the Yas Links Abu Dhabi.
Just a handful of golfers are yet to complete their rounds as a result of darkness setting in but it will not affect the standing of Scrivener.
The 33 year old added a second round of 70 to go with his opening 65 and he trails only Guido Miggliozi and Francesco Molinari.
Two years ago Scrivener finished four shots behind Tyrell Hatton but one ahead of Rory McIlroy in the event, so this golf course certainly suits the eye of the South African born but Perth raised golfer.
Scrivener has yet to win on the DP World Tour but his runner-up finish here and another runner-up finish nearly two months ago behind Cameron Smith at the Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane suggests that breakthrough win is not far away.
He was not all that fussed with his play today but is certainly happy with the position in which he finds himself.
“Not my best stuff today but ground it out for a good score in the end,” said Scrivener. “Looking forward to the weekend. This is what we play for, really, to be in this position and have a chance to win a golf tournament.”
Ryan Fox overcame a slow start on day one with a fine second round of 66 to be just three from the lead as he looks to pick up where he left off in what was such a brilliant season for him in 2022 when he finished behind only Rory McIlroy in the DP World Tour standings.
“Yeah, I think it was a bit of rust,” said Fox referring to his slow start on day one. “I played a fair bit of golf in the lead up to this, but there’s something about tournament golf that’s a little different. I think I was actually doing pretty well to be doing 2-over through seven (yesterday), the couple of shots I hit.
“Made a couple of all world pars yesterday, and I didn’t think I would be talking to you after two rounds, being in contention. It was really nice out there today. Hit a couple of scruffy shots but definitely felt a lot better.
“I just feel like I’m a much better golfer than I was at the sort of start of last year and have got a fair bit more confidence in my game. I know that there’s not as many weaknesses as there was a few years ago. Like yesterday, I hit it awful but I could rely on my short game and my putter, and I couldn’t have done that in the past. It’s nice to see everything turning in the right direction like that.”
Fox shares 9th place with, amongst others, Perth’s Min Woo Lee.
New Zealand’s DP World Tour rookie this season, Daniel Hillier, has comfortably made the cut at 4 under and in 34th place and so all four Australasians in the field have made it through to the weekend in the US9 million event.
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