Fox triumphs with 'best shot I've ever hit' in 'pillow fight' playoff vs. Burns

Ryan Fox admitted his four-hole playoff against Sam Burns wasn't the prettiest, but that didn't dampen his excitement after picking up his second PGA TOUR victory at the RBC Canadian Open.

"To be honest, Sam and I had a bit of a pillow fight there for three holes," Fox said. "It was some pretty average golf from both of us, some average putting."

Burns failed to sink a five-foot putt for the victory on the first playoff hole, and neither player could find a birdie over the next two holes.

Fox turned the tide with his second shot on the fourth extra hole with a 3-wood approach to within seven feet. Though he missed his eagle attempt, Fox made no mistake with a birdie in close for the win.

"That shot I hit on 18 with the 3-wood was probably the best shot I've ever hit," Fox said. "It would have been nice to make (the eagle), but hey, I'll take it."

Fox's first career PGA TOUR victory at the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic in May also came via a playoff against Harry Higgs and Mackenzie Hughes, though it was decided on the first hole.

The 38-year-old has two wins in his last four starts, and he said the lessons he learned from his first victory helped pave the way for his Canadian Open triumph.

"This one felt a little less nerve-racking," Fox told TSN's Bob Weeks. "You're still nervous, but it just felt like it didn't quite matter as much. I know that it's kind of a bad thing to say, but the bad shots don't matter as much after winning. You get a bit of confidence and security and everything - that means a lot out on TOUR.

"I felt like, coming down those last few holes, I could really give it a go and try to win the golf tournament rather than worry about hanging onto a third for some FedEx Cup points or anything like that. It's a great way to play golf. I wish I could've figured it out a little earlier out here, but it's nice to get a couple wins in the last month, that's for sure."

Fox recorded just one birdie on his front nine Sunday but found another gear with three birdies in his last five holes - including a 17-foot putt on No. 18 to force the playoff.

The New Zealander qualified for next week's U.S. Open with the win.

"It's still a bit surreal, to be honest," Fox said.

He added, "I felt like my golf game's in good shape. If I gave myself chances down the stretch, anything could happen, and it did."