© Getty Images Sport – Ross Kinnaird / Staff
The endearing New Zealander, Ryan Fox, is known for having one of the fastest routines in the world, but on Thursday, he made history at the prestigious The Players by achieving a feat no other player had accomplished before.
Ryan Fox, results
Kiwi Ryan Fox is not among the 23 players exploring the TPC Sawgrass course this week in Ponte Vedra Beach, but the 5th-placed finisher in the last Race to Dubai won’t soon forget the 1st round of the Players played Thursday in idyllic playing conditions.
Indeed, at +1 after 5 holes, Fox followed up with two eagles in a row at the 16th and the famous hole number 17 of the Pete and Alice Dye course! Never before seen for Ryan Fox. On the par 5 of the 16th, he first landed his ball at the flag with a magnificent 165-meter iron shot after a monstrous 300-meter drive.
Then, on the island hole of the Stadium Course, he scored the first hole-in-one of the tournament! Two consecutive eagles, a feat never before seen in 50 years of the Players Championship! The Players Championship (often referred to simply as The Players, stylized by the PGA Tour as The PLAYERS Championship) is an annual golf tournament on the PGA Tour.
Initially known as the Tournament Players Championship, it commenced in 1974. The Players Championship has, at times, boasted the highest purse of any tournament in golf, ranging from $12.5 million in 2019 to $25 million in 2023.
The tournament typically features the top 50 players in the world rankings and is owned by the PGA Tour, though it is not an official event on other tours. Despite not being classified as a major, the tournament has been promoted as such by the PGA Tour, often referred to as the fifth major, and is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious events in golf.
This is due to its high-caliber field and substantial purse, as well as its renowned host course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida—the TPC at Sawgrass Stadium Course, which has been the tournament’s venue since 1982 and is home to the iconic par-3 No.
17 “Island Green.” Format As of 2023, the champion receives $4.5 million, the winner’s portion representing 18% of the largest purse in golf ($25 million). Additionally, the champion earns 80 points towards their world ranking, the second-largest allocation after the majors, which award 100 points.
In comparison, other leading tournaments typically offer between 65 and 70 points to the winners. The champion also receives a five-year exemption on the PGA Tour (formerly ten years), a three-year invitation to the Masters Tournament, and three-year exemptions for the U.S.
Open, The Open Championship, and the PGA Championship. Furthermore, if the champion is a PGA Tour member, they earn 600 FedEx Cup points.
