How Ryan Fox Won The 2023 BMW PGA Championship

New Zealand’s Ryan Fox recovered from a triple bogey 12 months ago to win the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth ahead of England's Tyrrell Hatton and Aaron Rai.

Fox ran up a seven at the third, but made eight birdies for a round of 67 to finish one shot ahead on 18 under. It was a victory that would ultimately help Fox to secure a PGA Tour card for 2024.

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 playoff.

"I certainly didn't think I'd be talking to you [as the winner] after the third hole," 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."

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

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Sweden's Ludvig Aberg, celebrating his Ryder Cup call-up, 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 that month, led by four shots after making 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.

He was one of seven European Ryder Cup players in the top 10, with Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy surging through the field with a 65 to finish joint seventh.