Ryan Fox. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The New Zealand golfer Ryan Fox has come agonisingly close to winning his maiden European Tour title, but has secured his place at the British Open.
Fox went into the final round of the Irish Open at Ballyliffen in Donegal four shots behind leader South African Erik van Rooyan.
Van Rooyen struggled with two a over par 74 as Fox enjoyed a storming back nine at the Irish Open which included three birdies.
But luck was not on his side as a birdie putt to win the tournament from eight feet on the final hole jumped offline to send him into a play off with Scotland's Russell Knox who'd holed from 40 feet for a birdie across .
When the players returned to the 18th for a sudden-death play-off the situation was repeated, Knox holing from almost exactly the same place for birdie before Fox saw his attempt from close range catch the edge of the hole and spin out.
"I hit two great putts on 18 which grazed the edge and one came back at me," said Fox. "I'm happy, I hit the shots I wanted to down the stretch, felt comfortable out there and it was close.
"Had one putt been an inch ether way I'd still be out there now or even with the trophy in my hand but well done to Russ, he played some great golf today."
While disappointed at not winning Fox still earns nearly $1.5 million for finishing runner-up and will tee off in the third major of the year the Open at Carnoustie in two weeks time.
The result will also go a long way to guraranteeing Fox his European Tour card.
-RNZ
