Fox has tools to contend – Williams

It’s already been a break-out year for Ryan Fox but super caddie Steve Williams predicts even bigger things in the future for the Kiwi golfer.

Fox will tee off in his first major on American soil today, along with fellow countryman Danny Lee, in the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.

The 30-year-old has been in good form on the European Tour, finishing in the top six in three of his last four starts - he missed the cut at the British Open after getting the short straw with the weather - and Williams expects him to continue his development as a top-class player over the next year.

‘‘He’s a guy that I believe is going to do well,’’ he said on Wednesday.

‘‘By the end of 2018 I think will crack the world’s top 50 and then we will see how good he is.

‘‘It’s learning curve for him, he’s broken into the top 100 so he’s fully exempt in Europe next year.

‘‘If he gets into the top 50 he will make the WGC events and all the majors and then he’ll get familiar with the courses for the big events and the top players.

‘‘He’s bit of a late bloomer but he’s got all the tools and he’s willing to learn so he’s got a big future.’’

The PGA Championship has the strongest field of all the majors, taking the world’s top 100 players rather than just the top 50, so it will be a tough initiation for Fox.

But Williams’s advice to Fox was simple.

‘‘I sent him a message last night to just soak it up and enjoy it.’’

While it’s too much to expect for Fox to contend in his first start in an American major (and just his third in total), he certainly has the game for the course.

Wet weather is forecast so it will likely play longer, suiting the big-hitting Fox who is sixth in driving distance on the European Tour this year with an average of 319 yards.

‘‘When courses get soft there is no question it favours the longer hitters,’’ said Williams, who caddied for Fox at the NZ Open earlier this year.

‘‘Ryan is an exceptionally long hitter so it will suit him if conditions soften.’’

He showed that attribute at the long-drive contest at Quail Hollow on Wednesday, blasting a 330-yard drive but missed the prize when his ball trickled off the fairway.

He’s not just a one-trick pony either - Fox is 13th in greens in regulation in Europe this year.

Although Quail Hollow has been remodelled, the basic layout remains the same and Lee has some good memories from the Wells Fargo, with two good finishes in the regular PGA Tour event held at the course, including a top 10 last year.

Williams said Lee needed to start putting himself into contention in majors to learn what it takes to be there at the end.

‘‘Danny is a superb putter,’’ he said. ‘‘If he gets hot there’s no reason why he can’t do well.