RBC Canadian Open: Ryan Fox Bests Sam Burns in Pillow-Fight Playoff

The PGA Tour is north of the border this week for the RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course). In what turned into a thrilling finish, Ryan Fox bested Sam Burns in a four-hole playoff.

For much of the final round on Sunday, it appeared as though any of 10 different golfers had chance to win. But Burns played phenomenal golf, posting the lowest final round score of his PGA Tour career with a 62 (8-under, course plays par-70).

He blew past the leaders, scorching the back nine in 29 strokes. Burns sat in the clubhouse with a two-shot lead, but tons of players were still out on the course.

He was forced to wait for over an hour. The likes of Cameron Young, Kevin Yu, and Matt McCarty were unable to reach Burns’ 18-under. But Fox showed some incredible moxy and ultimately drained a 15-foot birdie putt on his 72nd hole to force a playoff.

Both players headed to the 18th tee to determine a winner. The same par-5 18th that both players birdied Sunday.

But during the first playoff hole, neither player could replicate that feat. Although, Burns missed a winning birdie putt from inside six feet.

That sent both players back to the 18th tee for the third time Sunday.

Once again, both players found themselves staring at birdie putts. This time, it was Fox with a great look at victory. Yet, somehow the Kiwi shockingly left his 11-foot birdie putt nearly a foot short of the hole.

The poor putt left CBS announcer Trevor Immelman in disbelief.

“How on Earth can you leave that a foot short,” Immelman said.

That prompted tournament organizers to change hole locations on 18, in hopes of finding a victor. Unfortunately, that did not work. Both players once again laid up and were each lucky to even par the hole.

CBS Announcer Jim Nantz would reference their playoff as a “pillow fight,” which was cemented online.

So, back to the tee they went.

However, in the fourth playoff hole, Fox hit the shot of the tournament. Instead of laying up, which both players had done each of the previous playoff holes, the Australian went for it.

It turned out to be his best decision of the day. Fox smoked it, cleared the water and left himself just over five feet for eagle.

Meanwhile, Burns, now also forced to go for it, pulled his approach wayward left on the green. He blew his lengthy eagle putt well past the hole, taking the pressure off of Fox, who two-putted from six feet to win.

It is Fox’s second career PGA Tour win of his career and of the season. Fox previously won the Alternate Field Myrtle Beach Classic last month.

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