SerpApi.Org
Ryan Fox has withdrawn from his upcoming PGA Tour event just days after claiming his first Open Championship title, following a trend set by several major winners in 2026.
Fox secured his place in golf history on Sunday by winning The Open at Royal Birkdale, sealing his maiden major championship with a dramatic birdie on the 72nd hole.
After the physical and emotional demands of the victory, Fox has understandably withdrawn from this week's PGA Tour event, the 3M Open. The quick turnaround would have seen him return to action just four days after the final round of The Open. Instead, the New Zealander is taking a well-deserved break to recover and savor the achievement of becoming the latest Champion Golfer of the Year.
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It is not unusual for golfers to step away from competition shortly after winning a major championship, with several recent winners making similar decisions.
Aaron Rai took the same approach in May after securing his first major title at the PGA Championship, withdrawing from the Byron Nelson CJ Cup to enjoy a break following his breakthrough victory. However, Wyndham Clark chose a different route after winning the 2026 U.S. Open, opting to compete in the Travelers Championship, a signature event that featured a $3.6 million first-place prize.
Rory McIlroy also decided against returning to action immediately after his major triumph, skipping the RBC Heritage just one week after winning his second consecutive Masters title.
Fox's withdrawal has opened the door for two-time PGA Tour winner Fabian Gomez to enter the 3M Open field at TPC Twin Cities. Gomez finished tied for 42nd at the Corales Puntacana Championship, which was held during the same week as The Open.
The New Zealander is not the only player from Royal Birkdale to withdraw from the event. Eric Cole, who finished tied for 53rd after a final-round 75, also pulled out on Sunday, with Charley Hoffman stepping in to take his place in the 144-player field.
S.Y. Noh has also withdrawn from the tournament and has been replaced by Ryan Brehm. Meanwhile, Jordan Spieth, who had committed to the event weeks earlier, is also absent from the official 3M Open field.
Following his victory, which saw him become just the fourth New Zealander to win a major championship after Bob Charles, Michael Campbell and Lydia Ko, Fox reflected on the significance of his historic achievement. He said: "Surreal, to be honest. It's something you dream of. I used to get up in the middle of the night to watch this tournament back home.
"It was always something that was there just to be able to play in it, first up, and now to be an Open champion, to be the Champion Golfer of the Year, it's unbelievable, surreal, crazy. I don't have enough words in my vocabulary to explain it, to be honest."
