Ryan Fox reaches highest world ranking with 3rd place at BMW
Ryan Fox – file photo courtesy of PGA of Australia
Ryan Fox has fallen just short of a playoff to decide the BMW International in Munich, the New Zealander finishing alone in 3rd position and just two shots from the extended battle between the eventual winner, Haotong Li of China, and Belgian, Thomas Pieters.
Fox will rise to his highest ever ranking of 56th or so when the revised world rankings are released later today and continues a season which has seen him in 7th place in the Race to Dubai following six to ten finishes in his last nine starts including his win earlier this year in the UAE.
Fox began his final round five shots adrift of Li who had led from his opening round of 62 but birdies at his opening two holes of round four followed four holes later by an eagle at the 6th had him within four after Li himself had birdied three of his first six holes.
Fox’s only mistake of the day came when he bogeyed the 8th to lose a little momentum in his pursuit of a 3rd European Tour title but he would birdie the 11th and 15th to get into a share of second place and just one behind Li.
Li bogeyed the 15th but he and Pieters would add to late birdies to drew clear and force a playoff and Fox who was unable to capitalise on the reachable par 5 last would fall two short.
Li went on to win at the first extra hole after missing the green and then holing a 40 foot birdie putt after making a mess of his pitch from alongside of the green.
Pieters then missed from shorter range and Li had won his third European Tour title but his first in more than four years and his emotions overflowed as he celebrated the victory, perhaps not allowing Pieters the courtesy of a calm moment for him to attempt to take the playoff into further holes.
Li’s immediate post round greenside interview was also a little over the top, letting the expletives flow as he recalled what had no doubt been a harrowing time since his last win and more especially 2021 when he failed to make the weekend in his first fourteen events.
“Hard work does pay off,” said Li when things had calmed down a little. “To be fair, there’s a little story behind today. Ten months ago I met my friend Zhi (Yang), who is my caddie now. That first week I said to him ‘Dude, I don’t want to play golf anymore’ I probably needed to do something else.
“It’s him always outside, always taking care of me. I give so much s*** to him, get so mad at him so often, struggling, he was with me through the dark times, all the time. Just so many guys I need to thank. My parents, my mom, my dad, my sister, family, my sponsors, you guys, the boys. I can’t say enough.
“Yesterday we finished late, so I thought I needed some practice. I couldn’t eat or sleep last night. I probably slept five hours max, but I dreamed about holding the trophy. Things have happened to me again. It’s just incredible.”
Li Haotong – photo Getty Images / DP World Tour
