FOX DEDICATES DUNHILL WIN TO TRAGIC WARNE
RYAN FOX was inspired to secure the biggest win of his career yesterday by the memory of his close friend, cricket legend Shane Warne. The Australian passed away earlier this year at the age of 52, but New Zealander Fox claimed that he was with him in spirit at the Old Course as he came from four shots back to win the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Fox, who closed with a 68 to deny England’s Callum Shinkwin and Swede Alex Noren by a shot on 15-under-par, said: ‘The only person I can really think of at the moment is Warnie. We were great mates and it’s just a shame he’s not here. ‘But I definitely felt like he was there with me today. He was one of my idols growing up and we played together the last four years. He absolutely loved this tournament. ‘The last time I saw him was here last year when we finished second in the team event and he was buzzing. ‘He’s been missed by a lot of people this week, especially me. It was a strange feeling but it felt like he was there helping out and it’s certainly nice to do it for him. ‘I can’t say what he would have been saying had he been here, but knowing Warnie, he would probably have been trying to see how many vodka Red Bulls we could get in the trophy.’ The son of former All Black Grant, Fox began the year 213th in the world rankings but is now projected to rise to 25th after his second victory of the season following his initial success at the Ras al Khaimah Classic and three second-place finishes. That guarantees him a Masters debut, but he added: ‘I haven’t had a chance to think about that yet. ‘But it doesn’t get much better than this, winning at St Andrews.
‘To say I’ve won a tournament on the Old Course, which so many great champions have done, and to add my name to that list is very, very cool.’ Fox (pictured) had previously never finished higher than 28th but a sensational 56-foot birdie putt at the 16th set up his third career win worth £763,000. Fox shed a shot at the Road Hole, but a par at the last got the job done when Shinkwin signed for a 68 and Noren carded 69. It appeared at one stage that Rory McIlroy was about to exact a measure of revenge for the heartache he was forced to endure at the Home of Golf three months ago when he had looked poised to win a second Claret Jug, only to finish third.
The pressure got to Englishman Richard Mansell, who has yet to win on tour. Having begun the final round with a four-shot cushion, the 27-year-old from Staffordshire carded 76 to finish equal seventh on 11-under.
ENGLAND’S Charley Hull ended a six-year wait for a second LPGA Tour title last night by holding off the challenge of Xiyu Lin at the Volunteers of America Classic in Texas.