Source: Radio New Zealand
Ryan Fox in hospital after operation for kidney stones. 2026. supplied / Instagram
Auckland golfer Ryan Fox is in hospital after being forced to withdraw from the Players Championship in Florida.
Fox pulled out of the unofficial fifth major just before the opening round because of illness.
He has since revealed that he is in hospital after suffering from kidney stones.
“Not exactly the week I had planned here,” Fox said on Instagram.
“Unfortunately some kidney stones took me down on Tuesday night and then had to be dealt with surgically this afternoon.
“Devastated to miss out on such an amazing event, hoping to have a quick recovery and be back at it soon.”
He was replaced in the 123-man field by David Ford, who will be among the 15 players competing for the first time at the TPC Sawgrass.
Fox has been in good form so far this year, he has finished in the top 25 in all four events he’s played and pocketed $1.7 million.
The 39 year old won the Myrtle Beach Classic and the Canadian Open last year and is No 44 in the world rankings.
The Players Championship is worth $43 million with the winner taking home $7.7m.
Fox’s best result at the Players Championship was last year when he finished tied for 20th.
American Colin Morikawa also withdrew from the tournament with a back injury, but world number two Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland is playing after recovering from his own back injury.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
