Ryan Fox started the day with a share of the lead at the RBC Canadian Open and carded a bogey-free, 4-under 66 to reach 18-under.
American Sam Burns made a single bogey and closed with a 62, the low round of the day and one stroke shy of his best on Tour, to take the clubhouse lead and later enter a playoff against Fox.
Both players parred the first three extra holes and while Burns parred the fourth, Fox made a birdie to earn his second PGA Tour title in his 71st start at the age of 38.
“Was pretty happy just to get in the playoff there. Obviously I needed a really good finish to get there and had some great shots coming down the stretch,” said Fox. “Sam let me off the hook big time there that first playoff hole. I’d almost given him that. We had a couple scrappy holes there, and then to hit the shot I hit on 18 on the fourth playoff, it was pretty surreal. It’s the best shot I’ve ever hit in my life. There’s nothing close to that.
“Now, again, Sam probably let me off the hook three-putting there, but I felt like I put pressure on him with that shot. It was pretty cool to have a nice little tap-in there and kind of soak it all in.”
Fox had earned first Tour victory in a playoff over Mackenzie Hughes and Harry Higgs at the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic earlier this year. He is the fifth multiple winner on Tour this season (Rory McIlroy/3, Scottie Scheffler/3, Ben Griffin/2, Sepp Straka/2).
“It feels like yesterday we’re doing this at Myrtle Beach,” added Fox. “I played the PGA and Memorial since then and seem to be making a habit of getting into majors last minute, which is not a bad problem to have.
“My head’s spinning. Obviously I knew I was playing good golf coming into this week. Just wanted to give myself a chance come Sunday afternoon. I did that and was really happy with how I conducted myself today. I was really patient early. Felt like I wasn’t quite there. As I said, I hit some great shots down the stretch to get into that playoff.
“Anything can happen, and I was lucky enough it fell my way.”
Fox becomes the second New Zealander to win the RBC Canadian Open following Bob Charles in 1968.
RBC Ambassador Sam Burns recorded his fifth runner-up of his career, most recently at the 2022 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. He earned his third top-10 finish in his fourth RBC Canadian Open appearance (T4/2022, T10/2024, Won/2025).
Chinese Taipei’s Kevin Yu fired an eagle at the par-4 2nd hole as well as five birdies and three bogeys for a 66 and finished third at 17-under.
American Cameron Young was attempting to win his first title in his 89th start and entered this week as the player with the most runner-up finishes (7) without a victory on the PGA Tour, the most of any player on record (since 1983). He signed for a bogey-free 65 featuring an eagle at the par-5 1st hole to reach 16-under and take a share of fourth place alongside compatriot Matt McCarty who made two bogeys for a 67.
Overnight co-leader Matteo Manassero of Italy made a pair of bogeys and closed with a 69 to finish T6 at 15-under.
Three qualifying spots were available for the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush through the Open Qualifying Series. The leading three finishers, not otherwise exempt, from the RBC Canadian Open earned spots in the field; the three non-exempt players who secured their spot at Portrush are Kevin Yu (3rd/-17), Cameron Young (T4/-16) and Matt McCarty (T4/-16).
2023 RBC Canadian Open champion Nick Taylor claimed the Rivermead Cup as low Canadian.
17-year-old 2024 Canadian Amateur champion Tyler Mawhinney (T65/-3) won the Gary Cowan Medal as low amateur.
