Ryan Fox has made history by becoming the ninth New Zealander to win on the PGA Tour.
He secured the final spot in this week’s PGA Championship after claiming victory at the Myrtle Beach Classic on Monday. The win not only earned him a place in a major tournament but also brought a big sigh of relief after a difficult start to the season.
Fox, 38, said it wasn’t the best preparation for a major, but he’s not complaining. After all, the win gave him a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour and lifted him to 71st in the world rankings. This success came after weeks of travel, little rest, and dealing with an old hip injury.
Before the win, Fox had missed four cuts and only finished in the top 20 twice this season. He and his family—his wife Anneke and their two young daughters—had been moving around a lot, unsure where they would settle. They recently moved to Jupiter, Florida, hoping for more stability.
The $1.2 million NZD prize was a bonus, but for Fox, the real victory was proving to himself that he belongs at the top level. “Golf is brutal,” he said. “If you don’t play well, you don’t have a job.”
With a few slices of pizza, a Snickers bar, and some wine, Fox celebrated his first PGA Tour win.
