Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – New Zealand’s Ryan Fox captured his first US PGA Tour title on Sunday, chipping in for birdie at the first hole of a three-way playoff to win the Myrtle Beach Classic and book a spot in the PGA Championship. Fox, 38, went left off the tee at the first playoff hole, the par-four 18th, then landed his second shot just off the green. But with his chip, he eliminated Canadian Mackenzie Hughes and American Harry Higgs, who had finished 72 holes tied with the Kiwi on 15-under 269.
“I knew the two guys had pretty good birdie chances,” Fox said. “I just wanted to give the chip a run at it. To be honest, it never looked like it was going anywhere else, and the rest of it is a bit of a blur from there.” Fox had made four of his five final-round birdies on the back nine to shoot a five-under par 66.
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Hughes had a chance to close out the victory in regulation, but he missed a 10-foot par putt at the final hole to fall into the playoff with a final-round 67. Taking some of the sting out for Hughes was the fact that he was already qualified for the PGA Championship, the second major of the year that starts at Quail Hollow on Thursday.
Higgs, who had five birdies and two bogeys in a 68, said he was “proud and bummed out.” “Hopefully I get another chance, and I think that I will,” he said. “I think that I’m on the right path.” Fox called his first PGA Tour win — after eight international victories that include four DP World Tour titles — “very rewarding.”
“I always deep down felt I could compete with the guys out here,” he said. “Just haven’t been able to put it together. To get that win is extra special.” The tournament was played opposite the signature event at Philadelphia Cricket Club, won by Austrian Sepp Straka.
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