Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox has been rewarded for another solid performance at a Major tournament, gaining entry to the American PGA Tour.
After briefly leading on the opening day, Fox, 36, finished tied for 23rd in the PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club, New York, 12 strokes behind winner Brooks Koepka, but further enhancing his growing reputation in the United States.
Until now, his career has been based predominantly on the European Tour, where he was named Golfer of the Year, after finishing second behind four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy on overall standings last year.
Off the back of a 26th placing at the US Masters in April, Fox's latest showing has seen him awarded special temporary status on the PGA Tour, along with Aussie Min Woo Lee, who finished tied for 18th.
"Solid week at the @pgachampionship for me and this is pretty cool to get," Fox posted on Instagram.
Fox achieved his performance despite a preparation hampered by illness, Auckland flooding and the birth of his second daughter just days before the tournament.
The result sees him maintain his ranking of 41st in the world, after reaching a career-high 21st last year.
His new tour status gives him the choice of events on both sides of the Atlantic, as he builds towards the next Major of the year - the US Open at Brookline, Massachusetts in June.
