It keeps getting better for Ryan Fox
Ryan Fox – image courtesy of RBC Canadian Open
Just four weeks after his breakthrough PGA Tour win in Myrtle Beach, New Zealand’s Ryan Fox has won a second and more significant PGA Tour title with a playoff victory over Sam Burns at the RBC Canadian Open at the TPC Toronto in Ontario. Both tournaments have been won in a playoff, further highlighting the grit of the 38-year-old Aucklander.
In doing so, Fox secured the biggest ever cheque by a New Zealander in tournament golf (US1.764 million), but it is not only the huge purse that goes to the winner, it is the significant additional benefits including full PGA Tour exemption until the end of 2027, guaranteed starts in the Masters and the PGA Championship in 2025, a jump into the top 35 in the world ranking, (still short of his previous best of 23rd but significant all the same) and a start at next week’s US Open.
Fox, who had essentially chosen not to attempt final qualifying for next week’s US Open, now has a start as a result of his improved ranking and must now start the event as a chance to record his best finish in a major (his previous best is 16th at the 2018 Open Championship) given the confidence and self-belief he will now own as a result of his success in such an important event.
Fox joins Sir Bob Charles as the only male New Zealanders to win the Canadian Open.
Fox, who led into today’s final round along with Italy’s Matteo Manassero, took some time for his round to build momentum today, a two-putt birdie at the drivable 6th his only reward in his opening 13 holes. A missed chance from short range at the 10th appeared as if it might prove costly as did another missed opportunity at the 16th but he holed a 20 footer at the 72nd hole for birdie (which just sneaked in the side door) after laying up, to join Burns who has finished his round nearly two hours earlier with a round of 62.
It took four holes to separate the pair, Fox breaking the deadlock with a stunning three wood into the wind at the 4th hole, a shot he would later describe as the best shot of his life. It set up a two-putt birdie from 8 feet, and with Burns three putting from 50 feet, the title was Fox’s.
“It was tough,” said Fox.”I hit some great shots down the stretch in regulation. Probably got a little lucky on that putt on 18 in regulation, snuck in the left door.
“To be honest, Sam and I had a bit of a pillow fight there for three holes. It was some pretty average golf from both of us, some average putting. But that shot I hit on 18 with the 3-wood was probably the best shot I ever hit. It would have been nice to make it, but hey, I’ll take it.”
“Sam let me off the hook big time there that first playoff hole. I’d almost given him that. We had a couple scrappy holes there, and then to hit the shot I hit on 18 on the fourth playoff, it was pretty surreal. It’s the best shot I’ve ever hit in my life. There’s nothing close to that.
“Now, again, Sam probably let me off the hook three-putting there, but I felt like I put pressure on him with that shot. It was pretty cool to have a nice little tap-in there and kind of soak it all in.”
Fox had played well at the Canadian Open last year recording one of his best finishes until his win at Myrtle Beach.
“It’s such an iconic tournament, so much history here. To get my name on that trophy is amazing. I remember watching it years ago when I was playing on the Aussie Tour and thinking it looked like a really awesome event.
“To get a chance to play in it and have a couple good weeks last year and this year — obviously this year is a little better — is amazing. To see some of the names that are on that trophy and to have my name on it is amazing.”
Fox will now play in his 7th US Open at Oakmont next week, and given his current form, he is likely to enter the calculations to emulate Michael Campbell’s magnificent win at Pinehurst in 2005, and certainly beat his previous best finish of 39th in 2018.
