New Zealander Fox makes his mark stateside on Mother s Day at Myrtle Beach

New Zealander Ryan Fox sealed his first U.S. PGA Tour title in spectacular fashion on Sunday with a 50-foot chip-in from the fringe of the green to win the Myrtle Beach Classic and give his wife the perfect Mothers Day gift.

Fox celebrated with his wife, Anneke Ryff, and two young daughters after the stunning birdie chip won him a three-way playoff against Mackenzie Hughes and Harry Higgs and earned him a spot at the PGA Championship, which starts on Thursday.

Its Mothers Day today, Fox told reporters. So my wife sort of joked on Friday when I said, What can I get you for Mothers Day? And she goes, Well, a trophy would be nice. So I guess I lived up to my end of the bargain there.

To have the wife and kids here is amazing.

With a father who played 46 times for the All Blacks and helped bring the inaugural World Cup to rugby-mad New Zealand, Fox was always going to have to produce something special in his golf career to shed the son of tag.

After claiming the prestigious BMW PGA Championship title in 2023 for his fourth win on the European Tour, he packed up his young family to try his luck in the United States.

I havent transitioned probably as well as I would have liked over the PGA Tour, the 38-year-old said. It was tough last year, I managed to just keep my card, and its been a scratchy start this year as well.

I always, deep down, felt like I could compete with the guys out here, I just havent been able to put it together. And I was very happy to do it this week.

After signing for a final round five-under-par 66, Fox earned his spot in the playoff