Ryan Fox marked his second win in five weeks on the PGA Tour. He already won at the RBC Canadian Open, sealing that victory with an electrifying playoff win over Sam Burns. The New Zealand golfer then hit a 3-wood rip that ended up seven feet from the cup on the fourth playoff hole. This outstanding play clinched his win during an action-packed matchup that showcased talent and perseverance.
The last hour of the tournament played out in tense style. In regulation play, Fox put on a show with a 4-under 66. He finished in style with a thrilling 18-foot, 8-inch birdie putt on the par-5 18th hole. This strong finish propelled him into the playoffs alongside Burns, who concluded his round with a remarkable birdie on the final hole for a score of 62.
The playoff featured some dramatic eagle efforts on the 18th hole. With each player going back to the tee box a fourth time, the tension was palpable. Tension was palpable when Burns faced a slightly more than five-foot birdie look to win it at the first extra hole. Unfortunately for him, he left it short, providing Fox with the opportunity to resume his quest for valiant defeat.
PGA Tour tournament officials reversed their ruling after a pair of additional playoff holes. By moving the pin location from extreme left to extreme right front, it created a unique even more difficult challenge for the competitors. Long story short, Fox’s high-pressure shot heard around the world made at the last second was key to his victory.
Fox reflected on the experience, stating, “To be honest, Sam and I had a bit of a pillow fight for three holes.” His light-hearted but deadly serious characterization is spot on about the playful, but very serious competitive nature of their cat-and-mouse game.
Following this win, Fox’s impressive run has landed him an impressive 6th place in the world rankings. A report last week mistakenly reported that he had fallen from No. 32 to No. 75. In fact, he shot up much higher on the list immediately after his win. The victory cements his status as one of the favorites heading into next week’s British Open. He had previously qualified by winning the 2023 BMW PGA Championship.
It wasn’t just Fox and Burns, though—a host of other challengers helped to bring extraordinary depth and drama to the tournament finale. That meant Cameron Young’s brilliant 65, a round of the day, catapulted him to equal fourth. En route, Kevin Yu birdied the last hole for solo third in 66.
Fox’s triumph at the RBC Canadian Open adds to the young kiwi’s growing reputation as a serious player on the PGA Tour. He thrives in clutch situations and often knocks down game-changing shots. This is a talent that will continue to serve him as he gets ready for the next bigger tournaments.
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