Fox Continues Hunt for DP World Tour History

Mallorca, Spain: Three-time former Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) participant Ryan Fox this week continues his hunt to become the first New Zealand winner of the DP World Tour Rankings.

The world number 25 tees it up at the Mallorca Golf Open, where a victory would move him to second place and within touching distance of leader Rory McIlroy in the season-long list.

The Kiwi has had a career-defining season in 2022, his second victory of the campaign at this month’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship helping catapult him into contention to win the DP World Tour Rankings in partnership with Rolex.

Fox currently sits in third place, behind leader McIlroy and second-placed Matt Fitzpatrick, and he requires a strong finish to the season to make history for his home nation and be crowned the Tour’s number one player.

He is joined in the field this week by Spaniard Rafa Cabrera Bello, as well as the defending champion Jeff Winther of Denmark, as Son Muntaner Golf Club hosts the event for the first time – capping off a three-week Spanish swing on the DP World Tour.

Fox: “It’s hard to know how my game is. Last week I missed the cut by one after doubling the last. I hit a lot of good shots and probably didn’t get rewarded for them.

“It’s been a funny few weeks. I had a win in there and then a few missed cuts, too, so hopefully I find the good stuff not that bad stuff this week.

“I’m trying not to do anything different. I’ve been really good this year at not thinking about the external stuff, just thinking about trying to beat the golf course I’m playing and one shot at a time. I know that’s cliched but there’s a reason for that, it works.

“I want to give those guys a run, I’ve got to do something pretty impressive at the back end of the year to get past Rory and Fitz, but stranger things have happened and I’ll just be doing my thing, not trying to do anything different because it’s worked pretty well for me this year.”

Fox appeared in the first three editions of the AAC. He missed the cut at China’s Mission Hills in the inaugural event in 2009. In 2010 in Japan he tied for 34th and claimed a share of 17th spot in Singapore in 2011.

Among those who finished ahead of Fox in Singapore were Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and Australian Cameron Smith, both of whom have gone on to become Major championship winners.