Fox breaks his European Tour drought

Perth – New Zealand’s Ryan Fox (left) claimed his maiden European Tour title yesterday, beating Spain’s Adrian Otaegui on the final matchplay day at the World Super 6 in Perth.

Under the tournament’s innovative rules, there were three days of strokeplay, cutting the field, before the top 24 players qualified for the knockout phase.

By finishing in the top eight after the opening three rounds, Fox earned a bye through to round two of the six-hole shootout competition.

But he still had to come through 25 holes to lift the trophy at Lake Karrinyup Country Club.

He beat Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond on the third shootout hole, then Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan 1 up in the quarterfinals before easing past Ireland’s Paul Dunne by the same score in the semis.

It set up the final with two-time European Tour winner Otaegui. The 32-year-old jumped out into a 3-up lead and victory was his when the fourth hole was halved in pars.

“It’s starting to sink in, but it still feels a bit surreal to be honest,” said the affable Fox after the biggest win of his career.

“I just worked out I didn’t have any bogeys in the matchplay today, and played great in the final. It felt like a home crowd today.”

Fox’s win came in his 79th European Tour event. – AFP