Golf: Kiwi Ryan Fox settles for second at Soudal Open on DP World Tour after blowing three-shot lead

SUTTON COLDFIELD, ENGLAND - MAY 06: Ryan Fox of New Zealand plays his second shot on the 15th hole during the second round of the Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett at The Belfry on May 06, 2022 in Sutton Coldfield, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
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Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox has had to settle for second at the Soudal Open in Belgium, after a wayward final round cost him another win on the European Tour. 

Fox blew a three-shot lead with 11 holes to play, as England's Sam Horsfield captured his third tour victory.

Horsfield carded three-under in the final round to finish 13-under, two shots clear of Fox and German's Yannick Paul.

The 35-year-old was disappointed with the outcome, but congratulated Horsfield on his Instagram after a great battle between both.

Horsfield shot a final round of 68, and was his first tour victory since 2020, in his second week back from a three-month injury break.

"I was trying not to cry while I was over that little tap-in (at the 18th). Having Issi on the bag, it's been an amazing week," he told Sky Sports.

"Mick (Seaborn, his regular caddie) is not here but I wish he was. I said yesterday I wanted to do it for him and I was able to do it for him. I'm just so, so happy. 

"I definitely thought about Mick quite a lot. Especially on the back nine, I pulled a few clubs that he definitely would have wanted me to hit. 

"Issi has been amazing. I've been so happy on the golf course. It's just like golf's sort of got in the way this week, until a little bit there on the back nine."

The result means Fox takes home $276,000 and moves up to sixth place in the World Tour season rankings.

The Kiwi will take plenty of form into this weekend's US PGA Championship in Oklahoma, after picking up his third-straight top ten finish on the European Tour.