Ryan Fox from New Zealand won his first PGA Tour tournament on Sunday with an amazing 50-foot chip shot from the edge of the green at the Myrtle Beach Classic. This victory gave his wife Anneke Ryff the ultimate Mother’s Day present she had joked about just days earlier.
Fox celebrated his win with his wife and two young daughters after his incredible birdie chip secured his spot in a three-way playoff against Mack Hughes and Higgs. The win also earned him entry into the PGA Championship, which begins this Thursday.
“It’s Mother’s Day today,” Fox told reporters after his victory. “My wife joked on Friday when I asked her, ‘What would you like for Mother’s Day?’ and she said, ‘A trophy would be nice.’ So I guess I fulfilled my part of the deal there. Having my wife and kids here is truly wonderful.”
The 38-year-old golfer comes from a notable sports family. His father represented the All Blacks rugby team 46 times and played a key role in helping New Zealand win their first Rugby World Cup. Fox has always faced the challenge of creating his own identity in golf beyond being known as “the son of” a famous athlete.
After winning the prestigious BMW PGA Championship in 2023, his fourth victory on the European Tour, Fox moved with his family to the United States to pursue opportunities on the PGA Tour. His transition to American golf has not been as smooth as he hoped.
“I haven’t adapted to the PGA Tour as smoothly as I would have preferred,” Fox admitted. “Last year was tough; I just managed to keep my card, and this year has also had a rocky start. Deep down, I’ve always believed I could compete with the players here, but I just hadn’t been able to bring it all together. I’m thrilled to have done so this week.”
Fox shot a final round of five-under-par 66 to get into the playoff when Hughes lost his one-stroke lead with a bogey on the 18th hole, and Higgs could only make par on the final hole.
“I don’t want to sound negative, but you tend to think someone will make a putt on the last hole, which is usually the case,” Fox said. “I told my caddie that no matter what happened, I executed what I could control very well out there. I was really pleased to get another opportunity.”
The victory comes with a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour, giving Fox the stability he needs to build his career in the United States.
“In this sport, winning is rare, and job security is even rarer,” he said. “So it’s definitely reassuring to have that. With this in the back of my mind, it feels like I can play more freely for the rest of the year. I hope that takes away some pressure. We’ll see how things unfold in the coming weeks, but it certainly feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”
Fox’s win at the Myrtle Beach Classic adds his name to the growing list of international talent making an impact on the PGA Tour. His dramatic chip-in joins other notable finishes from the weekend, including Sepp Straka’s victory at the Truist Championship and Jeeno Thitikul’s win at the Mizuho Americas Open.
As Fox prepares for the PGA Championship this week, he carries not only the momentum of his first PGA Tour victory but also the confidence that comes from knowing he can compete with the best golfers in the world. His Mother’s Day miracle might just be the beginning of a new chapter in his career.
The golf world now turns its attention to Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, where the PGA Championship begins on Thursday. Fox will join other recent tournament winners like Straka and a field that includes stars like Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas, who have both won at Quail Hollow in the past.
