Ryan Fox sets new mark for longest successful putt of PGA Tour season

Ryan Fox. Photo / AFP

Ryan Fox has set a new benchmark on the PGA Tour.

During his first round of the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld in Vallarta, Fox set a new PGA Tour season-best distance for a successful putt, draining an attempt on the par-three fifth from 92 feet, seven inches (28.18 metres) for birdie.

It’s a record the Kiwi is familiar with holding, having holed the longest putt of the 2024 season at 88 feet, 10 inches (27.07 metres).

It was the main highlight in a mixed round for the 38-year-old, who finished the day with a three-under-par 68 but sits outside the top 20 on the leaderboard

Fox started the day by dropping a shot on the par-four ninth, before three birdies in his next five holes.

Ultimately, he went into the turn two-under, before starting the front nine in the same fashion as the back.

The impressive birdie on hole five triggered a run of three in a row, before he undid that work when he gave two of those shots back to the course on the par-four eighth.

But with a birdie on his final hole of the day, Fox positioned himself nicely going into the second round.

The tournament is Fox’s first since the Waste Management Phoenix Open in early February where he finished in a tie for 63rd at three-under for the tournament.

That came as he headed into the new season looking to build on the good things he did during a rollercoaster of a rookie season on golf’s top tour in 2024.

Last year, Fox was able to keep his card with a top-125 finish in the FedEx Cup standings, but dealt with mixed form and a niggling hip injury throughout the campaign.

On the DP World Tour, Kazuma Kobori sat in a tie for 45th after an opening-round 70 at the Kenya Open in Nairobi.

The 23-year-old finished at one-under in a round that included four birdies and three bogeys.

Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.