After chipping in on the first playoff hole to win the Myrtle Beach Classic a few weeks ago, Ryan Fox came up with an even more amazing shot to defeat Sam Burns on the fourth playoff hole and win the RBC Canadian Open.
The New Zealander hit a 3-wood from 259 yards to 7 feet, 2 inches from the cup on the par-5 18th hole at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley. After Burns three-putted for a par from 40 feet, Fox rolled his eagle putt 16 inches from the hole and tapped in for a birdie and his second career PGA Tour victory in five weeks. The win earned him $1.76 million and a berth in this week’s U.S. Open at Oakmont.
“To hit the shot I hit on 18 on the fourth playoff hole, it was pretty surreal,” Fox said. “It’s the best shot I’ve ever hit in my life. There’s nothing close to that.”
Ryan Fox’s Clutch Putt on 18 Forced Playoff
Ryan Fox hits ‘best shot of his life’ to win Canadian Open Playoff.
Fox began the final day tied for the lead with Matteo Manassero. Playing nearly two hours ahead of them and starting four shots behind, Burns fired a sizzling 8-under-par 62 that featured five straight birdies to start his back nine to take the lead at 18-under 262.
After going out in 1 under, Fox birdied the 14th and 15th holes to draw within one shot of Burns. Needing to birdie the 576-yard 18th after pars at 16 and 17, Fox hit his third shot from 105 yards to 16 feet, 9 inches and dropped the putt to finish with a 66.
“I feel like I was pretty lucky for that putt,” Fox admitted. “It looked like it was a little low side for me and just hung in there and lipped in on that left side.”
Both Men Had Playoff Opportunities
The first time they played 18 in the playoff, Fox hit his third shot to 16 feet and Burns hit his third to 5 feet, 9 inches. After Fox barely missed his birdie attempt, Burns missed his.
“Sam let me off the hook big time there that first playoff hole,” Fox said. “I’d almost given him that.”
The next time they played 18, Fox had a 12-foot birdie putt to win, but he left it a foot short. Both golfers parred the 18th the third time, setting up Fox’s career 3-wood shot, which surpassed his chip-in birdie from 53 feet in Myrtle Beach to defeat Mackenzie Hughes and Harry Higgs.
Yu, Young, McCarty Earn British Open Berths
Kevin Yu birdied his last hole for a 66 to finish alone in third, one shot out of the playoff. Cameron Young shot 65 to tie for fourth at 16 under with Matt McCarty, who shot 67. All three golfers earned spots in next month’s British Open at Royal Portrush as the top three finishers not already eligible.
Seeking his first victory, Young came to the 18th hole one shot behind Burns. Needing a birdie to tie and an eagle to take the lead, he crushed his 3-wood from 260 yards over the green and into deep rough. It took him four shots to get in the hole from there.
“I couldn’t have hit two better shots on the last hole,” Young said. “I don’t hit 3-wood that far, and it’s blowing straight into the wind, and it decided to bounce all the way to the back woods.
“I thought in the air I was going to have about a 12-footer to win the tournament, and it ended up somewhere I was going to struggle to make par, let alone make a 4.”
U.S. Open at Oakmont
The rough will likely be even tougher for the U.S. Open at Oakmont, which has a reputation as the world’s hardest golf course. It is hosting the Open for the record 10th time. Dustin Johnson won the most recent Open there in 2016.
The field includes 49 of the world’s top 50 players, including No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who is seeking to win his second consecutive major title after winning the PGA Championship last month. Scheffler was fourth at the Masters. Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau tied for fifth at the Masters and second at the PGA Championship.
Adam Scott is scheduled to make his 96th consecutive major championship appearance, dating to the 2001 British Open Championship. Only Jack Nicklaus (146) has played in more than 100 straight majors.
