MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. โ Ryan Fox of New Zealand secured his first PGA Tour victory in thrilling fashion by chipping in from just over 50 feet on the initial playoff hole to clinch the Myrtle Beach Classic title on Sunday. This remarkable win also secures him a return to the PGA Championship.
Fox finished with a strong 5-under 66. However, his path to victory seemed uncertain as Mackenzie Hughes approached the final hole holding a one-shot advantage. Hughesโ tee shot unfortunately veered into the trees, forcing him to pitch out, and he missed a crucial 10-foot par putt, shooting a 67 that led to a three-way playoff at 15-under 269 between Hughes, Fox, and Harry Higgs. Higgs had an opportunity to clinch victory himself but missed a 25-foot birdie putt on the 18th, carding a 68.
As the trio headed back to the 18th hole for the playoff, both Hughes and Higgs landed their drives on the fairway and approached with opportunities for birdie. Fox, however, found himself off the fairway, chipping from the rough to the collar of the green. When his chip sank into the cup for a birdie, Fox jubilantly raised his arms in celebration.
Reflecting on the playoff moment, Fox stated, โI had a really similar line in regulation and missed the putt right,โ attributing much of his success to a key insight from his caddie, Dean Smith, who reminded him that the putt didnโt break as much as expected. โI aimed straight at it, hit my spot, and it hardly looked like it would go anywhere else from the start,โ Fox recounted. Neither Higgs nor Hughes were able to make their putts.
Fox, now 38, had previously captured three victories on the European Tour, including a significant win at the BMW PGA Championship in 2023, reaching the 23rd spot in world rankings. Nonetheless, his transition to the PGA Tour had been challenging, as he hadnโt secured a top-10 finish this season prior to this event.
โVery rewarding,โ Fox expressed about his triumph. โThe transition hasnโt gone as smoothly as hoped. Last year was tough, and I barely kept my card. The start of this year has been patchy too. Despite the challenges, I always had a deep belief in my ability to compete with the best, and finally putting it all together this week was a great experience.โ
Winning the Myrtle Beach Classic also grants Fox a coveted spot in the upcoming PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, maintaining his streak of appearances in the prestigious major event for a fourth consecutive year. Additionally, he earns a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour along with a place in The Sentry at Kapalua to kick off the new year.