Ryan Fox has won the BMW PGA Championship in emphatic fashion to claim his fourth and biggest win of his career on the DP World Tour.
The world number 42 made a barrage of birdies coming home at the Wentworth Club after a triple bogey on the third, coming from behind to pip Aaron Rai, Tyrell Hatton, and several other massive names for the title.
Fox began the final round three shots behind European Ryder Cup player Ludvig Aberg at 13-under, shooting 69, 68, and 66 in the opening three rounds to share fourth place. After the triple at three, Fox went on to play his remaining 15 holes in eight-under-par, including a birdie at the final hole to secure the win.
The victory also sees him projected to move into third on the Race to Dubai Rankings, with the top ten earning PGA Tour cards for next season.
Fox was elated speaking to media following his win.
“I certainly didn’t think I’d be talking to you after the third hole today,” he said to the DP World Tour after the victory.
“I don’t really know what to think at the moment, to be honest. I’ve always struggled a little bit around here. I’ve maybe snuck one top 20 and barely made it to many cuts around here. To have a back nine like that, especially after how I started the day – it’s amazing. I played great, I pretty much didn’t miss a shot from the third hole onwards and saw a couple of putts go it. It was a pretty cool feeling on the last to know I had one to win and actually make it.”
Fox has returned to the professional game with a vengeance, finishing third at the Horizon Irish Open last week – his first event back after a break. He’s been working hard with his sports psychologist, focussing on beating the golf course, which is what he was thinking in the heat of battle down the stretch.
The victory was an emotional one for Fox, who had his young family watching in the gallery.
“…to have a good week in Ireland last week, and now this, I couldn’t wish for anything better. To have them here, including number two, is pretty special,” said the emotional Fox.
The victory is also his first Rolex Series win.
Fellow Kiwi Daniel Hillier withdrew from the event with a shoulder injury after the first round.
In the US, Kiwi amateur Sam Jones progressed through to the quarterfinals of the US Mid-Amateur after qualifying as the fourth seed.
A year on from being co-medallist at the event, Jones made his presence felt once again, winning his opening two matches 3&3 before winning his Round of 16 match 6&5. Unfortunately, the long-hitting leftie came up against red-hot Evan Beck and went down 2&1.
Beck went on to lose to Stewart Hagestad in the final.
On the Ladies European Tour Access Series (LETAS), Wenyung Keh has come close to keeping the Hauts De France trophy in New Zealand, finishing in equal seventh, three shots behind the winner.
Momoka Kobori won the tournament last year in her first start on the tour, and Wenyung Keh did her best to keep the trophy in New Zealand, shooting rounds of 72, 73, and 66 to finish eight-under-par.
Older sister Munchin also played well, finishing in a share of 17th at four-under.
Other notable Kiwi performances:
· Michael Long – T18, WINSTONgolf Senior Open, -1.
· David Smail – T19, Japan Senior Open, +1.
· Amelia Garvey – T29, Guardian Championship, -7.
· Denzel Ieremia – T33, DP World Tour Q-School Stage 1, -1 (missed).