Ryan Fox wins European PGA Tour Event
RAS AL KHAIMAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - FEBRUARY 13: Ryan Fox of New Zealand poses with the trophy and (L) His Highness Sheik Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasami, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah & His Excellency Sheikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qas-sami, Chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation following his victory during day four of the Ras Al Khaimah Classic at Al Hamra Golf Club on February 13, 2022 in Ras al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox has clinched the biggest title of his career with victory at the European PGA Tour's Ras Al Khaimah Classic in Abu Dhabi .
Beginning the day with a six-shot lead, Fox rounded out three days of dominance atop the leaderboard to close five shots clear of his nearest rival at the Al Hamra Golf Club.
Ranked world no. 211, it's Fox's first win on the 72-hole format European Tour. His only other win came in 2019 at a Super 6 tournament, which featured a strokeplay six-hole knockout format over 54 holes.
"Probably relief is the main emotion, because it was a bit of a struggle today," Fox said after his win.
The 35-year-old made a nervous start to his final round, bogeying two of his opening six holes to allow nearest rival Ross Fisher to close the gap on him to just two shots.
But he regathered himself and came home strong, shooting four-under through the final 11 holes and finishing with a score of three-under 69 for an overall total of 22-under.
RAS AL KHAIMAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - FEBRUARY 13: Ryan Fox of New Zealand tees off on the 16th hole during day four of the Ras Al Khaimah Classic at Al Hamra Golf Club on February 13, 2022 in Ras al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
"My stomach's stopped feeling weird now," Fox said, as he walked the fairway on the 18th.
"It's been a nervy day I can tell you that - but it's quite nice to have a long walk up 18 with the putter in my hand.
"Sleeping on a six-shot lead, I did not sleep very well last night and a couple of guys came at me early, so I was a bit nervous.
"It was going south pretty quickly and I'm pretty happy I could turn it around and show quite a bit of mental fortitude.