Ryan Fox Player Profile And What's In The Bag

Article Updated - September 2023

In a perfect world, Luke Donald would have watched one of his Ryder Cup team win the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. Instead, the title went to New Zealand's Ryan Fox, who recovered from a triple bogey to beat Tyrrell Hatton and Aaron Rai.

But the good news for Donald is that seven members of his team finished the week in the top 10.

Fox suffered a seven at the third, but then made eight birdies for a round of 67 to finish one shot ahead on 18 under.

Hatton, who won the tournament in 2020, led by four shots at one stage but a bogey at the 15th damaged his hopes.

Rai then clipped the hole with a putt for an eagle on the 18th which would have forced a play-off.

Fox said: "I've always struggled a little bit around here. I think I've snuck maybe one top 20 and struggled to make any cuts. To have a back nine like that, especially after how I started, was amazing."

• Player Profile
• Last 10 Events
• Key Stats
• What's In The Bag

It was an emotional victory for Fox, whose father-in-law died in recent months while the Kiwi welcomed the arrival of a second child.

Sweden's Ludvig Aberg had led by two shots overnight but a poor start contributed to a four-over round of 76.

Hatton, another member of Europe's Ryder Cup team later this month, led by four shots after hitting seven birdies and one bogey on the first 12 holes.

But he drove out of bounds on the 15th and finished the hole with a bogey immediately after play resumed following an 80-minute delay caused by to the threat of lightning.

Hatton holed from eight feet for a birdie on the 18th to join Fox on 17 under, before Rai's long eagle attempt to leapfrog the pair agonisingly caught the edge of the hole and stayed out.

That left Fox with a birdie putt from six feet to win and he calmly holed for his fourth DP World Title and the biggest triumph of his career.

Spaniard Jon Rahm, who had been runner-up on each of his two previous appearances at Wentworth, carded an erratic 68 to claim fourth place on 16 under.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy surged through the field with a 65 to finish joint seventh.

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Player Profile

Ryan Fox was born in Auckland in January 1987. His father is Grant Fox, who helped the All Blacks win the Rugby World Cup in 1987 and his grandfather played cricket for New Zealand. 

Fox turned professional in 2012 and joined the Tour of Australasia, winning the Western Australia Open in 2014 before adding the Queensland PGA Championship in 2015. He joined the Challenge Tour in 2016 and finished fourth in the order of merit, securing his DP World Tour card in the process. 

He had to wait until February 2019 for his first victory, at the ISPA Handa World Six, when he became the first New Zealander to win on the DP World Tour in 10 years since Danny Lee. Fox won his second title in February 2022 at Ras Al Khaimah Classic. He also lost in a playoff at the Dutch Open to Victor Perez and was runner-up to Adrian Meronk at the Irish Open.

And he capped a terrific 2022 by winning the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

His victory at Wentworth takes him to third place in the Race to Dubai.

Last 10 Events

BMW PGA Championship - 1st

Horizon Irish Open - T3rd

3M Open - CUT

The 151st Open - T52nd

Genesis Scottish Open - T12th

US Open - T43rd

The Memorial Tournament - T30th

Charles Schwab Challenge - T21st

US PGA Championship - T23rd

RBC Heritage - WD

Key Stats

Driving Distance - 309.95 Yards

Driving Accuracy - 51%

Greens in Regulation - 66.36%

Sand Saves - 44.44%

Putts Per Round - 28.33

Scoring Average - 70.22

What's In Ryan Fox's Golf Bag?

Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II 9.5°

FW: Srixon ZX Mk II 15°

Irons: Srixon ZX5 Mk II 3-5, ZX7 Mk 6-PW

Wedges: Cleveland Golf RTX6 ZipCore Tour Rack 50° Mid, 56° Mid, 60° Full,

Ball: Srixon Z-STAR XV