Ryan Fox birdied the par-five 18th gap of Wentworth’s West Course to win the BMW PGA Championship by one shot and declare the largest prize of his profession.
The 36-year-old New Zealander entered the ultimate day three photographs off the lead and when he made a triple-bogey on the troublesome third, he may have been forgiven for pondering that his likelihood had gone. However the resilient Kiwi, who completed third eventually week’s Irish Open, picked up two birdies on the entrance 9 to show in 36 after which got here house in 31, birdieing the final from six ft after laying up for a closing 67, to complete at 18 beneath, one away from Tyrrell Hatton and Aaron Rai.
Fox, who gained twice on the DP World Tour in 2022, mentioned: “I’m immensely proud. It’s such an iconic event. I do know Michael Campbell has gained round right here when it was the match play occasion and so as to add to that historical past right here and create a few of my very own could be very particular.”
“To have a again 9 like that, particularly after how I began the day, is superb. I performed nice. I just about didn’t miss a shot from the third gap onwards and noticed a few putts go in and it was a fairly cool feeling on the final to type of know I had one to win and really make it. To return over right here and have a great week in Eire final week and now to have this happe don’t assume I may have wished for higher.”
Fox picked up a cool €1,435,857 for the win and moved into the world’s prime 30 for the primary time in his profession.
For therefore lengthy on Sunday, this seemed like Tyrrell Hatton’s event to lose. He performed the entrance 9 in 31 and birdied the tenth and eleventh to determine a lead. A dropped shot on the fifteenth proved a killer blow, nonetheless, after he went out of bounds along with his tee shot a dropped a shot. A courageous birdie on the final was cheered on by the house followers, however it wasn’t sufficient, and he signed for a 66. “I positively have blended feelings,” he mentioned. “It was good to have an incredible week in Eire, and now right here, so I take some confidence from that to Rome. I’m actually excited to be a part of Staff Europe.”
Jon Rahm completed fourth on 16 beneath after a messy closing 68 that included six birdies, an eagle and 4 bogeys, one forward of Ryder Cup team-mate Viktor Hovland and two away from Tommy Fleetwood. Rory McIlroy made a cost by way of the sphere on Sunday with a closing 65 and completed in a tie for seventh at 13 beneath alongside Adam Scott and Callum Shinkwin.
Third spherical chief Ludvig Åberg slumped to a closing 76, after making double bogeys at holes 5 and seven, and completed in a tie for tenth, however European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald could have been delighted by the younger Swede’s total efficiency, in addition to that of the opposite 11 European crew members who all made the reduce, with seven ending inside the highest 10.
For all of the scores from the BMW PGA Championship, click on right here.
