Fox targets return to Tour after joining illustrious list

Golf Correspondent

Friday 27 July 2012

Talk about soaring to victory.

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Nick Rodger

A closing eagle at Gleneagles gave Graham Fox the most significant win of his career yesterday.

The 35-year-old Ayrshireman, who held a three-shot lead heading into the final round over the King's course, trundled in a putt of 10 feet for his 3 on the par-5 18th to stave off the menacing advances of Greig Hutcheon and capture the £8900 first prize.

Fox signed off with a two-under 69 for a 15-under aggregate of 269 and won by two strokes from Hutcheon, with Scott Henderson a stroke further back in third."It's great to be among the names on this trophy and I'm proud of the way I coped today," said Fox, who joins a distinguished roll of honour which includes the likes of John Panton, Eric Brown, Bernard Gallacher, Sandy Lyle, Sam Torrance and Paul Lawrie."Even with a three-shot lead against guys of the calibre of Scott and Hutch it was never going to be easy, but I managed to get the putter working on the back nine and that helped me home."Despite his healthy overnight advantage, there was never going to be any time to relax for Fox, particularly with Tartan Tour stalwarts Hutcheon and Henderson on his tail. Indeed, it was Hutcheon, the Scottish champion 13 years ago and the joint runner-up last season, who gave chase right until the bitter end.The Banchory man holed a 30-footer for an eagle of his own on the last in a 67 to hoist himself on to the 13-under mark but Fox repelled this last-ditch assault. His superbly flighted 5-iron approach from 194 yards had rolled up to with 10 feet of the flag and, having watched Hutcheon's final flourish, Fox stepped up and knocked in his putt to gild the lily.Having experienced one full season on the European Tour back in 2002, Fox, who became a father 10 weeks ago, has not given up hope of returning to a grander stage. The former Scotland amateur cap will have another crack at the qualifying school later this year and believes he will be far better equipped after an eye-opening experience last season. "I did quite well at tour school last season but saw the guys there all hitting it miles and realised I was going to have to work harder or I'd have no chance," he said. "I've done a lot of work with my coach Ross Aitken in improving my overall game but also in conditioning and gym work with my fitness coach John Welsh to get stronger."I've been playing well for the last couple of months and it's great to get some vindication of all the hard work by winning this championship. I think I'm going back to tour school at the end of this year far better prepared for it than I was last year."Fox was given a thorough examination at Gleneagles yesterday. His lead evaporated with a series of missed putts on the front nine but a brace of birdies at 10 and 11 galvanised his title tilt. "I didn't panic at that because I knew the guys would be coming at me and it was just a case of knuckling down again," said Fox. "Tee to green I was playing well, giving myself chances and I knew the putts would start to drop."Greg McBain conjured a 66 to claim fourth place on 274 while Caldwell's Chris Currie, joint-second last year, came hurtling up into a share of seventh on 277 with a championship-best 63.

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Fox targets return to Tour after joining illustrious list

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