Beachlands’ Ryan Fox has added to his already successful weekend by qualifying for the 2018 US Open Championship at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club this morning.
With rounds of 65 and 71 at the open sectional qualifying at Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey, England, Fox continued his form from the European Tour to secure a place in his fourth major championship which commences on June 13.
After playing two Open Championships and one PGA Championship, this will be his first US Open as he looks to join fellow Kiwi and 2005 US Open champion, Michael Campbell in the history books.
“Massively excited to qualify for my fourth major, I have never played the US Open before, so to get to play one in New York at Shinnecock at one of the most iconic US Open venues is going to be pretty special, I can’t wait,” said Fox.
The unique thing about his qualification is that Campbell qualified for the US Open through the same sectional qualifying. The USGA-introduced European qualifying for the first time in 2005, which took place at the exact same destination, Walton Heath.
The eventual US Open champion had to sink a six-foot birdie putt on the last hole of qualifying to secure his place in the US Open and the rest is history.
Fox has enjoyed a great few weeks on the European Tour’s Rolex Series with his form continuing to go from strength to strength after finishing T51 and T8 in the last two weeks, so he will have high hopes and a positive mindset entering one of the globes biggest events.
“It’s been a pretty surreal four days really, obviously finishing with a top 10 initially with a great last round and doing a lot to secure my card for next year, then high-tail it back to London for 36 holes today,” said Fox.
“It was certainly nice to continue the form from yesterday’s round into today and I’m just very happy and hopefully it can continue for another week or so entering the US Open.