Soon after the round, golf journalist Adam Schupak posted an image from the media zone on social media of a big sign that read: Michelob Ultra courtesy of Ryan Fox.
Fox was glad not to be the one picking up the tab.
“I think they actually sponsor it. I was pretty lucky there because it would’ve been an expensive shout otherwise.”
Not only did Fox score an ace at one of golf’s most iconic holes, he also made history as the first player to score back-to-back eagles during The Players Championship as he scored a three on the par-five 16th as well.
Things changed ahead of his second round, however as he woke up with a virus which heavily impacted his performance. After finishing three-under par for his first round, he went four-over in his second and missed the cut by two shots - his third missed cut of the season.
“I had a couple-hour nap in the morning on Friday, which I never do before the afternoon tee time. I just didn’t feel right, had a red rash on my hands and feet - it was a very weird scenario and that’s not a golf course you want to play when you don’t feel 100 per cent,” Fox said.
“I just felt strange the whole day - dizzy, light-headed, my hands were red and sore, feet were red and sore. I’m not trying to make excuses, it was just one of those very weird scenarios.”
“It was just a case of bad timing. If it had hit on Monday. it wouldn’t have mattered too much but just the fact it hit on Friday and Saturday, it had a massive bearing on what happened for the week for me.”
Fox saw a doctor the day after his second round and was told he had a virus, but would start to come right after a couple of days.
That proved to be the case as, after spending the early days of this week resting, recovering and not touching his clubs, he was back on the greens on Wednesday (NZT) for a practice round ahead of this week’s Valspar Championship at Copperhead Course in Florida, which gets under way on Friday.
“I wouldn’t say [I’m] 100 per cent, but I’m feeling a whole lot better than Friday, Saturday last week. The doctor was bang on with what he said,” Fox said.
“I was a bit tired out on the golf course when I played 18 in a practice round today, but managed to get through it and I don’t think I could’ve done that a couple of days ago. Hopefully by Thursday afternoon [local time] when I tee off I’ll be as close to 100 as I can be.”
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.
