NZ's Fox wins Canadian golf championship in marathon playoff

Canada Standard

2 days ago

OTTAWA, June 8 (Xinhua) -- Ryan Fox ended a marathon final round at the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday as the New Zealand journeyman birdied the fourth playoff hole to defeat American Sam Burns at the 114th national championship in Ontario.
The 38-year-old Auckland native, the overnight co-leader, sank a 17-foot putt on the last hole of regulation for a 66 to get to 18-under 262 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) to force the playoff. Burns, who finished around 90 minutes before the final group, had closed with his low round of the year, an eight-under 62, to move to the top of the leaderboard.
As both players missed key putts that would have ended it during the first three holes of sudden death, all contested on the 576-yard, par-five 18th hole, on the fourth attempt Fox put his second shot to within eight feet of the flag which had been moved after the second extra hole. Burns, however, could not answer as his third shot rolled off the green forcing him to settle for a par. Fox then made two putts to seal the win, his second career PGA Tour title after winning in Myrtle Beach last month.
"It was tough. I hit some great shots down the stretch in regulation. Probably got a little lucky on that putt on 18 in regulation, snuck in the left door," said Fox who earned 1.8 million U.S. Dollars for his 19th win worldwide since turning pro in 2012.
Fox said Burns "let him off the hook" when the Louisiana native missed a five-foot putt on the first playoff hole that would have given him the win.
"I'd almost given him that. We had a couple scrappy holes there, and then to hit the shot I hit on 18 on the fourth playoff, it was pretty surreal. It's the best shot I've ever hit in my life. There's nothing close to that," said Fox who has earned a place in next week's U.S. Open at Oakmont with the win.
"I felt like I put pressure on [Burns] with that shot. It was pretty cool to have a nice little tap-in there and kind of soak it all in."
Kevin Yu of Chinese Taipei made a birdie at the last for 66 to finish third, one shot out of the playoff. Americans Cameron Young (65) and Matt McCarty (67) were equal fourth a shot further back.
South Korea's An Byeong-hun (66) and Andrew Putnam (67) of the U.S. were equal sixth three shots back with Italy's Matteo Manassero, the overnight co-leader who closed with a 69.
Nick Taylor (67) was the top Canadian in equal 13th as the 2023 Canadian Open winner finished five shots back in group of five players that included world No. 8 Ludvig Aberg (66) and Major winners Shane Lowry (67) and Danny Willett (67).