PGA Tour rookie makes tough decision to WD from home event
DP World Tour star Ryan Fox has made the tough decision to withdraw from his home New Zealand Open in order to concentrate on the PGA Tour.
DP World Tour star Ryan Fox has confirmed he has withdrawn from his home New Zealand Open later this month in order for him to best focus on his PGA Tour rookie season.
Fox, 37, earned his full PGA Tour card for the first time this year after coming through the top 10 available spots on the DP World Tour Standings last season.
The New Zealand Open is a regular fixture on the PGA Tour of Australasia and it runs up against the Cognizant Classic (formerly the Honda Classic) on the PGA Tour from 29 February to 3 March.
Fox, the reigning BMW PGA champion and World No.41, made his latest announcement on social media on Monday 19 February.
"Unfortunately I have made the tough decision to miss the New Zealand Open this year,'' confirmed Fox.
"Whilst it is disappointing to miss one of my favourite events, my priority is in succeeding on the PGA Tour and I'll be staying in the US for the foreseeable future in order to give myself the best chance of doing that.
"Wishing everyone at the New Zealand Open a fantastic week and I will be back in the future."
I’m sorry @NZOpenGolf but I will be back in the future! Wishing everybody all the best pic.twitter.com/DbUb5y5VL6
— Ryan Fox (@ryanfoxgolfer) February 19, 2024
It marks the second year in a row where Fox has missed his home event having taken up an invite to compete in last year's Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.
Fox has played in two PGA Tour events so far this season and hardly covered himself in glory with a missed cut at the Farmers Insurance Open last month followed by a T41 at the WM Phoenix Open earlier this month.
