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While most of the golf world was laser-focused on the signature event at the Truist Championship, there were still very big stakes on the line in the Myrtle Beach Classic, the opposite field event. After four rounds, the title came down to the very last shot in a playoff.
Ryan Fox came through when it mattered, making a birdie-3 on the par-4 18th hole in a playoff to take down Harry Higgs and Mackenzie Hughes. All three finished 72 holes at 15-under-par, forcing the sudden death shootout.
Fox’s playoff birdie wasn’t just any regular three on the scorecard.
After just missing the green with his second shot, the New Zealander chipped in from just off the green to seal the victory.
This is Fox’s first career win on the PGA Tour, so the chip-in is a shot he will remember forever. At 38 years old, he is the oldest first-time winner on tour since 41-year-old Ryan Armour in 2017, according to Justin Ray.
That isn’t even the biggest story for Fox coming out of this tournament. With this victory, he is now qualified for the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte this week.
Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
Fox did not qualify for The Masters this season — the first major that he had missed since Augusta in 2022 — but he will make his fourth consecutive start at the PGA Championship because of this victory.
Fox has made the cut in each of the previous three editions, with a T-23 finish in 2023 at Oak Hill.
This was a breakout result for Fox, who had not recorded a top 10 finish on tour yet this season. However, he did finish in the top 20 at The Players Championship and recorded his best finish, a T-15 at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, in late March.
Coming off of this win, Fox will have plenty of confidence coming into the PGA Championship.
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