One week ahead of the highly-anticipated U.S. Open, many of the tours best gathered north of the border for the Canadian Open. 

New Zealand’s Ryan Fox picked up his first PGA Tour title earlier this year at the Myrtle Beach Classic. The 38-year-old had been around for quite awhile, and has had much success on other professional tours, but had not been able to crack the code of winning on the PGA Tour until this season. He arrived at the Canadian Open playing some of the best golf of his career, posting high finishes at the PGA Championship and Memorial Tournament following his first victory.

Fox picked up right where he left off, opening the Canadian Open with a pair of 66s on the par-70 at TPC Toronto. Rainy conditions early in the week softened the course up, allowing for low scores and a 3-under par cutline. On moving day, the course was giving up loads of birdies, and Fox came out of the gate firing. He birdied the opening three holes, then made two more to close out a front nine 5-under par 30. The back nine was slightly less exciting, only managing a 1-under 34 but still posting an impressive 64. The round was good enough to get him into the final pairing alongside Italian Matteo Manassero.

The big storyline on Sunday was Sam Burns, who has found some form recently as evidenced by a top-20 finish at the PGA Championship and T12 finish at the Memorial. Burns quickly overcame a four-shot deficit by carding a front-nine 33 before and opening the back nine with five straight birdies. One more birdie at the par-5 18th got him to 18-under, carding a tournament-low 62.

Fox was the only one who could match Burns thanks to three late birdies, one of which came on the 72nd hole to force the playoff. The pair replayed the 18th hole, and Burns missed a five foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole that would’ve sealed the deal. They played it two more times, both making pars each time. The fourth time, the tournament staff moved the hole location from the back of the green to the front, making it much more reachable in two. Fox played his second shot first from the fairway, hitting a beautiful fairway wood from 260 yards to seven feet for eagle. Burns also found the green in two, but was a much further distance away. His eagle effort raced a good 10 feet past the hole, and was unable to convert the birdie. All Fox had to do was 2-putt from close range, which he did easily. The victory marks his second on Tour, second of the season, and he becomes the first New Zealand born player to win multiple times in the same season on the PGA Tour.

Winner’s Bag - Ryan Fox 

Srixon staffer Ryan Fox picked up his second title of the year in Canada on Sunday afternoon after outlasting Sam Burns in a four-hole sudden death showdown. His bag is outfitted with a myriad of the newest products from Cleveland and Srixon.

All WITB information is courtesy of GolfWRX.

Driver: Srixon ZXi (10.5 degrees)

Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 TX

Fox plays the new Srixon ZXi driver at 10.5 degrees, equipped with a Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft. Fox was solid off the tee for the week, gaining over a stroke on tee shots and finishing 21st in the field in driving distance.

3-wood: Srixon ZXi (16.5 degree)

Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 X

The clinching shot for Fox was the high, towering fade from 260 yards he hit on the fourth playoff hole with his Srixon ZXi 3-wood, equipped with a Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8X shaft. The shot nestled about seven feet from the hole and led to an easy birdie and win in the playoff.

Irons: Srixon ZXiU (2), Srixon ZXi5 (4, 5), Srixon ZXi7 (6-PW)

Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Fox’s approach play is what carried him all week. He gained 7.452 strokes on approach shots for the week, good enough for sixth in the field. He plays a combo of the newest Srixon irons – a Srixon ZXiU 2-iron, Srixon ZXi5 4- and 5-iron, and Srixon ZXi7 irons through the rest of the set. All of the irons include a True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shaft. 

Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-10 MID, 56-10 MID, 60-06 LOW)

Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Fox’s short game was also reliable all week during the few instances he did actually miss a green. His set of Cleveland RTZ wedges, which feature the new Z-Alloy material, helped him finish 22nd in strokes gained around the green and 15th in sand saves. 

Putter: PING Anser 2D

Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy 1.0P ‘21

The PING Anser 2D is an unsung hero of sorts this week for Fox. While he didn’t drop any long putts in the playoff with Burns, he did sink a 20-footer for birdie at the final hole of regulation to tie Burns and force the playoff in the first place. Fox’s Anser 2D is a longer Armlock build that clearly is working for him lately.