BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

September 17, 2023

Ryan Fox

Wentworth Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. A round of 67, 5-under par, which included triple bogey. Try to describe what this victory means to you?

RYAN FOX: I certainly didn't think I would be talking to you after the third hole today. I don't really know what to think at the moment to be honest. I've always struggled a little bit around here. I've maybe snuck one top 20 and bearable struggled to make any cuts around here. To have a back nine like that, especially after how I started the day, yeah, it's amazing. I played great. Pretty much didn't miss a shot from the third hole onwards and saw a couple of putts go in and it was pretty cool feeling on the last to sort of know I had one to win and actually make it.

Q. How did you put that triple behind you? You were eight under for the last 15 holes?

RYAN FOX: To be honest I've been working with Kyle Morris for a little while and it's just trying to beat the golf course. That's what we did all of last year and that's what we tried to do this year. Pretty much go back to whatever shot is in front of me.

I made a couple of birdies on the front nine and steadied the ship a little bit and played great from there on in. The back nine was crazy and made birdies from the trees on 15, the first hole back after the delay. Pretty cool one after the delay.

Q. We know almost anything can happen. What were you thinking and feeling down the stretch, particularly when you saw Tyrrell make the birdie in front of you?

RYAN FOX: Obviously I knew I needed to make birdie. I kind of made the decision from my lie that I could not go at the second shot. It was sitting down just a little bit and figured I've been wedging it really good the last few days and give myself a good number in there, a hundred meters. I had a similar shot a couple years ago and it's actually a pin that you can get to. You can use the slope and that's what I did. I hit the exact shot I wanted to and you know, just kind of the putt was just get it rolling and it was pretty straight and thankfully I managed to get it online.

Q. Your coach, Jamie Gough, was standing at the top and I heard a scream of delight. Your wife and children are here as well. How important are these people on this journey that you're on?

RYAN FOX: Yeah, we have been through a pretty tough year as a family. Lost my father-in-law in June after a really, really short battle with cancer and that kind of rocked the family. It's been tough going back and forth. To come over here and obviously have a good week in Ireland last week, and this, I don't think I could have wished for better, and they are here this week.

To have them here and have No. 2 with us, little Margot who is four months old, is very, very special.

Q. BMW PGA Championship after playing your last 15 holes in 8-under, that was some performance?

RYAN FOX: Yeah, I'm very surprised to be honest. I mean, if you take out the third tee shot, I actually played great all day but obviously making triple third hole of the day, you figured you might be out of the tournament and just play for a place. I didn't miss a shot from there on in.

Made a few nice putts as well down the stretch. Handled the rain pretty well, that's not normally my strong point, and made a couple of birdies. It's a pretty surreal feeling to be honest to win around this golf course.

Q. When you're standing on 4 tee, 10-under par, quite a few shots back, what is the mentality?

RYAN FOX: To be honest, standing on that 4th tee, I hate that tee, so it was just don't make two triples in a row. I made two good shots in there and missed an 8-footer for birdie and that settled things a bit.

I've been working with Kyle Morris the last few years and basically we have just tried to beat the golf course, and then playing from there on in, just go out -- I hit a couple of great shots down 6 and 8, made the putts and that steadied the ship, and caught fire on the back nine.

That's always a pretty cool feeling with all those people out there, to hit all those shots under pressure. There's some pretty uncomfortable holes down the stretch as well. Navigated my game a lot better than I ever have done in the past which is nice.

Q. This has been coming as well, I'm sure last week in Ireland felt like one that got away. To do it seven days later must be so satisfying?

RYAN FOX: Last week was my first top 10 of the year can and it was bait of a surprise after five weeks off, and not really doing too much golf; that I was in contention and I actually got pretty come fee down the stretch. This is a different here with the crowds. I felt surprisingly calm and in control the whole day. It's just cool to be in that situation and actually pull it off for once.

Q. All Blacks on Friday night, the victory on Sunday, not a bad weekend?

RYAN FOX: Yeah, definitely not. I'd certainly like them to go pretty far in the tournament, as well. I'll be watching.