May 12, 2025 • 8 mins
Golfer Ryan Fox will happily accept a slightly sore head for his three-hour road trip across the Carolina state border tomorrow.
The New Zealander's first PGA Tour win - coming in South Carolina - earns him a late spot in the year's second major, the PGA Championship being played at the Quail Hollow course in North Carolina.
Fox was toasting to his success as he spoke to Piney after his Myrtle Beach Classic victory.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildegrave
from News Talk zedb Ryan Fox has become the ninth
New Zealand male golfer to win on the USPGA Tour.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Only in the first cut.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
It's all about is that longer rough going defect his backswing?
Speaker 2 (00:28):
It's given it a Ryan Ryan Fox.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Fantastic a hollol Bernie been the first playoff hole.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
That is incredible. I knew he wanted to be aggressive.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
That to hit a perfect chip like that at your
biggest moment in professional golf.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
How about Ryan Fox. That is a amazing shot.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Amazing shot. Indeed, Ryan Fox chipping in for Bertie on
the first hole of a three way sudden death playoff
to win the Myrtle Beach Classic. He joins Sir Bob Charles,
Michael Campbell, John Lister, grunt Waite, Frank Nobolophil tart Angy,
Craig Perks, and Danny Lee as keiw mails to have
won a PGA to event. Danny Lee was the most
(01:12):
recent when he won the Greenbrier Classic in twenty fifteen.
That is until today. The victory earns Ryan Fox a
two year PGA Tour exemption. Automatic entry into this week's
second major of the year, the PGA Championship, and prize
money of one point two million New Zealand dollars. Ryan
Fox is with us on news Talks. He congratulations, Ryan.
(01:34):
How are you feeling a few hours after winning on
the PGA Tour for the very first time?
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Yeah, obviously very toughed. I'm still trying to kind of
work out what happened. I felt like I was kind
of always chasing today and was pretty happy to give
it a go down the stretch and give myself a
chance to get in a playoff, and yeah, was a
(01:59):
chip into win a tournament doesn't really get any better,
to be honest.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
So how were the feelings the emotions as you stood
over the third shot on the playoff hole, chipping towards
the hole. Did you always feel like you were going
to go for it?
Speaker 2 (02:13):
I mean, playoffs are kind of funny.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
You feel like you've got to take it on a
little bit and really try to win rather than it's
almost match play rather than than stroke play.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
And you know, to.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Be honest, I felt like I had a really good drive,
you know, was skirting the left edge of the fairway
and clipped the tree and dropped down and left and
ended up in a not great spot and had a
really good second shot to where I was at, And
you know, I was just thinking over the chip.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Just give it a chance.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
You know, obviously I still want I still want to
be in the playoff if it's you know, if everyone
makes par but you know, also you know, you figure
one of those guys is probably going to make that part,
so at least give it a chance to go in.
And I had a really similar part in regulation same
line from about thirty feet and knew it didn't break
(03:04):
very much. And you know, chip came out perfect. Couldn't
couldn't have wished for it to come out any better,
and about eight sort out. You know, I thought it
pretty much could go nowhere else. And then you know,
obviously after that, I'm just you know, you never wish
you playing partners to miss, but you you know, it
was certainly nice to not go any more holes for.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
It, Yeah, because that was the situation you were in
at that point. You have birdied both Hughes and Higgs.
Mackenzie Hughes and Harry Higgs have the chance to have
Birdie parts which would have sent you back to the
eighteenth tee Higgs couldn't couldn't part his What was the
feeling like watching Mackenzie Hughes line up that part and
then when he missed and you realize you'd won.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
To be honest, I kind of struggled to watch it
to start with. You know, it was again, you're not
wishing someone to do badly, but you know, on the
other hand, you know, I've had a couple go the
other way and playoffs for me, people whole long parts
on me to either win or carry on a play off.
So I kind of was just wishing for a bit
(04:10):
of luck in that respect, for something to go my way.
And you know, Ma's one of the better putters on
the PGA Tour. I think statistically he's up there most years,
and was definitely expecting him to him to give it
a real good chance, and it was obviously very tough
to see it slide by, And you know, also feel
(04:30):
for those guys, And you know, I played with Harry
and Mac a few times. They're both really good guys,
and they obviously played some really good golf today. But
you know, today was my day, and yeah, I was
very happy with how it turned out.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Absolutely. And what's it been like since, Ryan, What are
the hours since that that moment on the eighteenth Green
been like forul? You have you had the chance to
soak it in to celebrate.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Yeah, it's been pretty crazy. Lots of photos, presentation. They've
got a beach bar there, so had to head up there.
Managed to find a couple of glasses of red wine,
which was quite nice. And then are kind of chilling
in the in the clubhouse in the locker room with
with my family and my caddie and just you're having
having a bottle of wine and the kids had a pizza,
(05:16):
and yeah, it was pretty cool to have them all there,
to be able to celebrate it with and you know,
the golf course was fantastic, you know, making sure they
are all looked after when we finished, and you know,
they were all included in some of the celebrations. But yeah,
it's pretty well wind at the end, that's for sure.
And you know, my phone's been blowing up, as you
can imagine, so trying to get to a couple of
(05:38):
messages and and you know, ring mom and dad and
stuff like that. But yeah, it's been been a pretty
crazy few hours. And yeah, managed to stop at a
supermarket for a frozen pizza and a bottle of wine.
And that's going to be me for tonight.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
I'm very glamorous, brilliant. You've become the ninth New Zealander
to win on the USPGA Tour with some pretty illustrious names,
their names that I know, you know, well, what is
it like to join that exclusive club?
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Yeah, it's pretty cool. I mean, obviously the icons of
the game in New Zealand, and you know, it's pretty
cool to join some elite company in that regard. I've
felt like I've had a pretty decent career out on
tour so far and this this just kind of adds
to it. And you know, hopefully it's the first of
a few that would be that would be nice. But
(06:26):
you know, you know, regardless, it's nice to be in
that company with with you know, guys like you know,
maybe not Cambo, but you know, Nobolo and Wait and
Taderangi and Craig Perks and those guys who won out
on the PGA Tour. Obviously Cambo and Bob Charles and
Lydia stand head and shoulders above the rest as major winners.
(06:48):
But it's nice to be nice to be in with
those guys, you know, to one on the PGA Tour
and on you know, the DP or European Tour as well.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Yeah, we'll speaking of major championships. That's the other part
of this. It qualifies you for the PGA Championship, which
starts at the back end of this week tournament. I'm
sure that you that you weren't expecting to be involved,
and they say that winning breach confidence. What does this
win do for your confidence as you head into the
PGA Championship.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
I guess the expectations are pretty low next week in
that respect.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Obviously I'm in good form.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
I've been playing well, but it's really hard to back
up a win, you know, You've got to you know,
I felt like, you know, it's climbing a mountain this
week and you've got to go all the way back
down and climb it again next week, and that can
be quite hard. So, you know, I'm going to go
into next week with with you know, no expectations, and
I'm just happy to be in the field in that
(07:40):
regard and just try to get out of my own
way basically, just you know, trust the fact that I'm
playing good golf and I know my good golf is
good enough, and you know, regardless of what happens next week,
you know, I've got some status out here guaranteed for
the next couple of years. You know, it takes the
(08:01):
pressure off for the rest of the year. I'll you know,
probably schedules change a little bit as well, not just
next week, but potentially getting in some of those signature
events that they have through the swing files. I'm not
quite sure how all of that works, but apparently that's
looking a bit more promising than it was before the
start of the day. So yeah, look, hopefully I can
(08:22):
just play some free yer golf in the next a
little while.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
And you know, that certainly certainly helps.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
It helped in Europe a couple of years ago, getting
winners category and taking all that pressure off, and it's
certainly nice.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
And I've got a job out here for the next
little while.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
I bet it is. Thanks indeed for your time. Ryan.
Congratulations again, Ryan Fox, a PGA Tour winner, just one
of nine keyweks now to have achieved that feat.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays. Well. Follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildegrave
from News Talk zedb Ryan Fox has become the ninth
New Zealand male golfer to win on the USPGA Tour.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Only in the first cut.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
It's all about is that longer rough going defect his backswing?
Speaker 2 (00:28):
It's given it a Ryan Ryan Fox.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Fantastic a hollol Bernie been the first playoff hole.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
That is incredible. I knew he wanted to be aggressive.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
That to hit a perfect chip like that at your
biggest moment in professional golf.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
How about Ryan Fox. That is a amazing shot.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Amazing shot. Indeed, Ryan Fox chipping in for Bertie on
the first hole of a three way sudden death playoff
to win the Myrtle Beach Classic. He joins Sir Bob Charles,
Michael Campbell, John Lister, grunt Waite, Frank Nobolophil tart Angy,
Craig Perks, and Danny Lee as keiw mails to have
won a PGA to event. Danny Lee was the most
(01:12):
recent when he won the Greenbrier Classic in twenty fifteen.
That is until today. The victory earns Ryan Fox a
two year PGA Tour exemption. Automatic entry into this week's
second major of the year, the PGA Championship, and prize
money of one point two million New Zealand dollars. Ryan
Fox is with us on news Talks. He congratulations, Ryan.
(01:34):
How are you feeling a few hours after winning on
the PGA Tour for the very first time?
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Yeah, obviously very toughed. I'm still trying to kind of
work out what happened. I felt like I was kind
of always chasing today and was pretty happy to give
it a go down the stretch and give myself a
chance to get in a playoff, and yeah, was a
(01:59):
chip into win a tournament doesn't really get any better,
to be honest.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
So how were the feelings the emotions as you stood
over the third shot on the playoff hole, chipping towards
the hole. Did you always feel like you were going
to go for it?
Speaker 2 (02:13):
I mean, playoffs are kind of funny.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
You feel like you've got to take it on a
little bit and really try to win rather than it's
almost match play rather than than stroke play.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
And you know, to.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Be honest, I felt like I had a really good drive,
you know, was skirting the left edge of the fairway
and clipped the tree and dropped down and left and
ended up in a not great spot and had a
really good second shot to where I was at, And
you know, I was just thinking over the chip.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Just give it a chance.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
You know, obviously I still want I still want to
be in the playoff if it's you know, if everyone
makes par but you know, also you know, you figure
one of those guys is probably going to make that part,
so at least give it a chance to go in.
And I had a really similar part in regulation same
line from about thirty feet and knew it didn't break
(03:04):
very much. And you know, chip came out perfect. Couldn't
couldn't have wished for it to come out any better,
and about eight sort out. You know, I thought it
pretty much could go nowhere else. And then you know,
obviously after that, I'm just you know, you never wish
you playing partners to miss, but you you know, it
was certainly nice to not go any more holes for.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
It, Yeah, because that was the situation you were in
at that point. You have birdied both Hughes and Higgs.
Mackenzie Hughes and Harry Higgs have the chance to have
Birdie parts which would have sent you back to the
eighteenth tee Higgs couldn't couldn't part his What was the
feeling like watching Mackenzie Hughes line up that part and
then when he missed and you realize you'd won.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
To be honest, I kind of struggled to watch it
to start with. You know, it was again, you're not
wishing someone to do badly, but you know, on the
other hand, you know, I've had a couple go the
other way and playoffs for me, people whole long parts
on me to either win or carry on a play off.
So I kind of was just wishing for a bit
(04:10):
of luck in that respect, for something to go my way.
And you know, Ma's one of the better putters on
the PGA Tour. I think statistically he's up there most years,
and was definitely expecting him to him to give it
a real good chance, and it was obviously very tough
to see it slide by, And you know, also feel
(04:30):
for those guys, And you know, I played with Harry
and Mac a few times. They're both really good guys,
and they obviously played some really good golf today. But
you know, today was my day, and yeah, I was
very happy with how it turned out.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Absolutely. And what's it been like since, Ryan, What are
the hours since that that moment on the eighteenth Green
been like forul? You have you had the chance to
soak it in to celebrate.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Yeah, it's been pretty crazy. Lots of photos, presentation. They've
got a beach bar there, so had to head up there.
Managed to find a couple of glasses of red wine,
which was quite nice. And then are kind of chilling
in the in the clubhouse in the locker room with
with my family and my caddie and just you're having
having a bottle of wine and the kids had a pizza,
(05:16):
and yeah, it was pretty cool to have them all there,
to be able to celebrate it with and you know,
the golf course was fantastic, you know, making sure they
are all looked after when we finished, and you know,
they were all included in some of the celebrations. But yeah,
it's pretty well wind at the end, that's for sure.
And you know, my phone's been blowing up, as you
can imagine, so trying to get to a couple of
(05:38):
messages and and you know, ring mom and dad and
stuff like that. But yeah, it's been been a pretty
crazy few hours. And yeah, managed to stop at a
supermarket for a frozen pizza and a bottle of wine.
And that's going to be me for tonight.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
I'm very glamorous, brilliant. You've become the ninth New Zealander
to win on the USPGA Tour with some pretty illustrious names,
their names that I know, you know, well, what is
it like to join that exclusive club?
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Yeah, it's pretty cool. I mean, obviously the icons of
the game in New Zealand, and you know, it's pretty
cool to join some elite company in that regard. I've
felt like I've had a pretty decent career out on
tour so far and this this just kind of adds
to it. And you know, hopefully it's the first of
a few that would be that would be nice. But
(06:26):
you know, you know, regardless, it's nice to be in
that company with with you know, guys like you know,
maybe not Cambo, but you know, Nobolo and Wait and
Taderangi and Craig Perks and those guys who won out
on the PGA Tour. Obviously Cambo and Bob Charles and
Lydia stand head and shoulders above the rest as major winners.
(06:48):
But it's nice to be nice to be in with
those guys, you know, to one on the PGA Tour
and on you know, the DP or European Tour as well.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Yeah, we'll speaking of major championships. That's the other part
of this. It qualifies you for the PGA Championship, which
starts at the back end of this week tournament. I'm
sure that you that you weren't expecting to be involved,
and they say that winning breach confidence. What does this
win do for your confidence as you head into the
PGA Championship.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
I guess the expectations are pretty low next week in
that respect.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Obviously I'm in good form.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
I've been playing well, but it's really hard to back
up a win, you know, You've got to you know,
I felt like, you know, it's climbing a mountain this
week and you've got to go all the way back
down and climb it again next week, and that can
be quite hard. So, you know, I'm going to go
into next week with with you know, no expectations, and
I'm just happy to be in the field in that
(07:40):
regard and just try to get out of my own
way basically, just you know, trust the fact that I'm
playing good golf and I know my good golf is
good enough, and you know, regardless of what happens next week,
you know, I've got some status out here guaranteed for
the next couple of years. You know, it takes the
(08:01):
pressure off for the rest of the year. I'll you know,
probably schedules change a little bit as well, not just
next week, but potentially getting in some of those signature
events that they have through the swing files. I'm not
quite sure how all of that works, but apparently that's
looking a bit more promising than it was before the
start of the day. So yeah, look, hopefully I can
(08:22):
just play some free yer golf in the next a
little while.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
And you know, that certainly certainly helps.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
It helped in Europe a couple of years ago, getting
winners category and taking all that pressure off, and it's
certainly nice.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
And I've got a job out here for the next
little while.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
I bet it is. Thanks indeed for your time. Ryan.
Congratulations again, Ryan Fox, a PGA Tour winner, just one
of nine keyweks now to have achieved that feat.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays. Well. Follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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