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Cunning finish: Fox outsmarts field with stunning chip-in victory at Myrtle Beach
New Zealander secures his first PGA Tour title in dramatic playoff finish, punching his ticket to the PGA Championship
- PUBLISHED: Mon 12 May 2025, 8:17 PM
- By:
- KT Golf
Ryan Fox clinched his first PGA Tour victory earlier this week in dramatic style, holing out a remarkable 50-foot chip on the first playoff hole to capture the Myrtle Beach Classic title.
"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 said of the winning shot, which delivered his long-awaited breakthrough and secured his place in next week’s PGA Championship.
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Fox posted a final-round 66 to reach 15-under par, a score that seemed just short when Mackenzie Hughes stood on the 18th tee with a one-shot edge. But Hughes found trouble off the tee, punching out from the trees and ultimately missing a 10-foot par save.
His bogey dropped him into a three-way playoff alongside Fox and Harry Higgs, who narrowly missed a 25-foot birdie putt at the last that would have sealed his first win. Higgs closed with a 68.
Back on the 18th tee for the playoff, Hughes and Higgs split the fairway and left themselves makeable birdie opportunities. Fox, however, found the rough and settled just off the green. Then came the moment of magic — a perfectly judged chip that tracked straight into the cup. Fox threw both arms in the air as the crowd erupted.
"I had a really similar line in regulation and missed the putt right," Fox said. "My caddie, Dean [Smith], said to me, 'Remember, this doesn't break that much.' So I just kind of aimed straight at it, and I hit the spot I wanted to hit. ... 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."
Hughes and Higgs were unable to match Fox’s birdie, sealing the 38-year-old New Zealander’s first triumph on U.S. soil.
While Fox had previously earned three wins on the DP World Tour — including the prestigious BMW PGA Championship in 2023 — success had been elusive on the PGA Tour. His best showing this season was outside the top 10, and he narrowly retained his card last year.
"Very rewarding," Fox said. "I haven't transitioned probably as well as I would have liked over to the PGA Tour. It was a tough year last year. I managed to just keep my card.
"It's been a scratchy start this year as well. I always deep down felt like I could compete with the guys out here. Just haven't been able to put it together. I was very happy to do it this week and give myself a chance on Sunday was nice again."
The win earns Fox a spot in The Sentry at Kapalua in January, a two-year PGA Tour exemption, and a berth in the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow — his fourth straight appearance at the major. Hughes had already qualified for the event.
