Fox feels like he’s in a ‘dangerous place’
Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox has a bit to think about after his maiden European Tour victory in Perth put him a step closer to his career goal of breaking into the sport’s elite.
Top of that list might be writing a new wedding speech after the 32-year-old Aucklander had to admit his success at the
A$1.6 million World Super 6 Matchplay in Perth on Sunday had ruined the opening gag of his monologue at his upcoming marriage to long-time partner Anneke Ryff.
Fox has a bit going on over the next few weeks, with the country’s best golfer the marquee attraction at the New Zealand Open in Queenstown from February 28 to March 3, followed soon after by a wedding he described as ‘‘10 years in the making’’.
He flew back to New Zealand immediately after his Perth victory, though said he would now have to cancel a fishing trip planned for his first day back to continue celebrations with family and friends in Auckland.
Fox joked to media in Perth after his remarkably comfortable maiden tour victory – despite scant experience in the matchplay format he did not lose one of the 25 holes he played on Sunday – that his opening punchline of his wedding speech was now in need of a rewrite.
‘‘It’s killed one of my jokes. I was looking at running it as a golf speech and saying I haven’t done one for a while, and that my mates would give me a bit of stick about that,’’ he said. ‘‘But they can’t give me that anymore . . . I’ve got some practice kissing a trophy as well, which was nice.
‘‘I’ve also got a stag day coming up, which might just get a little bit looser after what just happened . . . there will be some celebrations going on the next few weeks and, thankfully, I don’t have a whole lot of golf to play.’’
Fox, who banks a $255,000 winner’s cheque from Perth after his
3 and 2 victory over Spaniard Adrian Otaegui in the decider, now has guaranteed status on the European Tour until the end of
2020 and moves up to 11th in the Race to Dubai standings.
More importantly, he told media he hoped this success would provide the impetus to close in on his goal of a place inside the world’s top 50. He was ranked No 85 going into the tournament, and rose to 66th in the updated rankings yesterday.
It is the highest ranking Fox has reached with his previous pinnacle world No 77, after finishing tied 27th in the 2018 PGA Championship.
‘‘It felt like it’s been really close. It’s almost a relief now that it’s happened,’’ he said of his breakthrough victory. ‘‘It certainly will free things up. I can go on feeling confident that if I play well, I can compete with anyone in the world and that’s a pretty dangerous place to be.
‘‘I’m probably going to get closer to top 50 and that’s where we all strive to be. You get in the majors, the WGC.
‘‘I’ve got the New Zealand Open and then a few weeks off . . . I’m sure in the next few weeks I’ll sit down and sort of rethink everything and set goals for the rest of the year.’’
The son of All Blacks legend Grant Fox admitted his latest success, in the same city where he won his first professional title, now set up the New Zealand Open as an even more special week.
‘‘I’ve got Steve Williams on the bag that week as well,’’ he said. ‘‘I’m sure it probably adds a little bit of pressure on to it.
‘‘I always love going down to Queenstown, one of my favourite places in the world. I would love to get my name on another trophy. If not, it would be nice to have another Kiwi win the 100th New Zealand Open.’’
He admitted Perth was now becoming a bit of a home away from home, considering his first win as a professional was at the nearby Cottesloe Golf Club in the 2014 WA Open.
‘‘I’ve always played pretty well here. It feels a little bit like Auckland for some reason. I’ve got a few friends here . . . you get a good feel about a place and it makes it easy to play well.’’
It was a case of third time lucky for Fox at the event after
previously being eliminated in the playoff and then missing out by a shot last year. After not making a bogey in regulation and not losing a hole in the knockout rounds his confidence was high heading into the final.
‘‘I enjoyed getting to sit down after the semifinal [a 1-up victory over Ireland’s Paul Dunne] and kind of take stock and relax. Between the quarters and semi and the first round, I literally walked from the 18th green to the tee and it was a bit manic.
‘‘When I got to the 10th tee [the first Super 6 hole], I felt a lot calmer than the earlier matches and I played my best golf in the matchplay comfortably in that final.’’
Fox said he had driven well all week in Perth which was always a key for him and shrugged off any pressure of playing for the victory.
‘‘It’s almost easier trying to win a golf tournament than trying to make a cut. If you’re up near the top, you’re generally in pretty decent control of your game, and I felt it was pretty close all week.’’
He also dismissed any shaky feelings from his close call at the Irish Open seven months ago after losing to Scotland’s Russell Knox in a playoff.
‘‘I did everything right [in Ireland]. I just had someone do something incredible on me. I knew if I was in that situation again, I would feel comfortable.
‘‘The format’s nice, especially when conditions got tough. You’re only trying to beat one guy, not a bunch of guys who have been out early and shot low scores, not trying to beat a tough golf course . . . you’re just trying to beat your opponent.’’
‘‘It felt like it’s been really close. It’s almost a relief now that it’s happened.’’
Ryan Fox