Fox agonisingly close to claiming maiden European Tour title
AUCKLAND: Ryan Fox has fallen agonisingly short of his maiden European Tour title.
Fox lost a playoff to Scotland’s Russell Knox at the Irish Open in Ballyliffen yesterday, missing an 2.5m putt to win the title and then having to watch as Knox sank two miraculous putts — the first to force a playoff, and the second to win it.
Fox and Knox produced many twists, going back and forth in a thrilling final day, and while it was Knox coming out on top, Fox did not have many complaints as he claimed second and the ¤665,614 ($NZ1.1 million) which came with it .
‘‘I feel all right. I had two great putts on 18, one grazed the edge and one came back at me, so I’m happy.
‘‘I hit the shots I wanted to down the stretch, felt comfort
able out there, and . . . it was close,’’ he said.
‘‘I drove it great, gave myself plenty of chances, and had one putt been one inch [2.5cm] either way . . . I’d have the trophy in my hand.’’
In the end, it was not to be, after a final round in which Fox was twice in the driver’s seat. Each time Knox responded, the pair the last ones standing in a round in which several players launched bids at the title.
Jorge Campillo’s 7under round meant he leapt to 13under, one shot behind Fox and Knox.
Defending champion Jon Rahm left his bid too late and finished a further shot back, while Erik Van Rooyen’s over night lead of four strokes soon evaporated, as did his title chances as he too signed for a 12under total.
At one stage, there were four players tied at 12under, but Fox pulled away from the pack as part of a backnine birdie binge.
However, after a superb approach at 13 allowed him to put it within 90cm for birdie, he found the bunker on the next hole, dropping a shot as Knox knocked one close to tie him atop the leaderboard once more.
It turned into a familiar theme. When Knox could not birdie the favourable par5 17th, Fox struck, hitting the green in two and safely twoputting to take a onestroke lead into the final hole.
Unfortunately for the 31yearold, that was when Knox struck.
The Scottish world No 87 sank a mammoth 12m putt on 18 to force Fox to require a birdie for victory. He nearly managed it — a booming drive and delicate approach left Fox needing to hole an 2.5m putt to win his first title on the European Tour, but past the right edge it skimmed, leaving Fox stunned, and giving Knox a second chance as the pair returned to the 18th hole for a playoff.
There, it was unfortunate deja vu for Fox. A 364m bomb of a drive down the middle set him up perfectly, while Knox narrowly avoided a bunker and could only recover to give himself a long putt for birdie.
Somehow, he sank it again, roaring with delight, sending the crowd into raptures, and leaving Fox with a 3.5m putt to stay alive.
It lipped out, with Fox having to settle for second, and New Zealand’s nineyear drought without a European Tour title continuing. — NZME