Ryan Fox appeared visibly moved as he settled onto a sofa inside the players' lounge at Royal Birkdale, having just sunk an 11‑foot putt on the 18th hole—the toughest test of the week—to secure a birdie and clinch The Open. The word "remarkable" hardly captures the magnitude of his achievement. Back in New Zealand, fans stayed up through the night, eyes glued to the broadcast as they watched the son of one of the nation’s most celebrated All Blacks and the grandson of a former New Zealand cricket captain become only the second Kiwi ever to lift the Claret Jug. At 39, Fox is widely praised as one of the most modest and unassuming competitors on the PGA Tour.
He later admitted that his whole body trembled from the sheer enormity of the moment, yet his calm, measured demeanor never wavered. A testament to his efficient style of play, the decisive putt took merely 22 seconds to roll into the cup after his playing partner Sam Burns had finished his round at Royal Birkdale. The instant the ball dropped, an emotional backstage scene unfolded: Fox video‑called his wife Anneke, their daughters Isobel and Margot, and his father Grant, all of whom could be seen wiping away tears as they shared in his historic triumph.
When asked what he was feeling, Fox confessed, "I don't really know what to think at the moment. I spoke to my kids last night and they told me to bring back a trophy.
I think this is a pretty cool one to bring back for them!" He added, "I used to get up in the middle of the night to watch this tournament back home. To actually play in it and now be the Champion Golfer of the Year is unbelievable." Fox was born in Tokoroa, Waikato, on New Zealand's North Island. Like many in his family, he grew up playing both rugby union and cricket.
His grandfather, Merv Wallace, was a legendary batsman who appeared in 13 Tests for New Zealand, captained the side twice, and amassed 439 runs at the highest level. Grant Fox, Ryan's father, was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2014 and is remembered as one of the sport's finest goal‑kickers. The former All Black fly‑half earned 46 caps, scored 645 points, helped New Zealand win the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987, and was instrumental in the 2‑1 series victory over the British and Irish Lions in 1993. "We've got a great history in our family," Ryan said on Sunday.
"The other great thing is I had no pressure to follow in any of their footsteps. I was lucky enough to carve my own path and had support from both my grandfather and my mum and dad throughout. I don't know if this tops their achievements, but it's certainly right up there. There's no pressure on my kids now!" After completing secondary school, Fox chose to focus on golf, having reduced his handicap to two by the age of 16.
Although his parents encouraged him to continue his education—he enrolled at the University of Auckland, initially studying law before switching to psychology—his heart remained on the fairways. He turned professional in 2012 at 25, quickly capturing three victories on the PGA Tour of Australasia. Fox honed his skills on the Hotel Planner Tour before earning a DP World Tour card in 2016. His first DP World Tour win came at the ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth in 2019, a breakthrough that later secured him temporary PGA Tour membership in 2023.
To date, he has amassed five DP World Tour victories, including the prestigious BMW PGA Championship in 2023 and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in 2022. On the PGA Tour, he claimed his inaugural title at the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic and later added the RBC Canadian Open to his résumé. Despite a steadily rising career, Fox never imagined he would capture a major championship. "I told my team last night at dinner that if you had given me my career up to yesterday, I would have jumped at the chance," he recalled.
"I don't know what to think now, to be honest. You dream of being a major champion." In 2022, Fox dedicated his Alfred Dunhill Links victory to his late friend, Australian spin‑bowling legend Shane Warne, who had passed away earlier that year.
The two had teamed up in the event’s team format on several occasions, most recently in 2021. "The only person I can really think of at the moment is Warney," Fox said after his 2022 win.
"It definitely felt as if he was with me all the way around. It means a lot to win this event.
We were great mates, and it's a shame he's not here. I really wanted to do something special for Warney and I'm proud to have accomplished that." Fox’s Open victory made him only the fourth New Zealander to win a major.
Sir Bob Charles was the pioneer, taking The Open in 1963 at Royal Lytham & St Annes. Michael Campbell followed with a US Open triumph in 2005, and Lydia Ko has added three major titles to her record, most recently the 2024 Women’s Open. "To be able to join them is amazing," Fox said.
"To have my own little piece of history. I don't know if I ever thought it was possible, but here we are." His humility and dedication have earned praise from across the golfing community.
Prior to his Open win, Nick Dastey, general manager of the PGA Tour of Australasia, lauded Fox for "continuing to give back to Australian and New Zealand golf." Dastey added, "The greatest thing I could say about Ryan is he hasn't changed from the moment he first turned professional to the moment now, and this won't change him either. He is just a fantastic human being, someone we would want as a model professional golfer and tour member." Looking ahead, Fox’s next appearance will be at the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Minnesota, kicking off Thursday with early coverage on Sky Sports+ before moving to Sky Sports Golf at 7 p.m. The 3M Open is part of a triple‑header of live golf on Sky Sports, alongside the ISPS Handa Senior Open and the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open, with the women’s major season concluding at the AIG Women’s Open from July 30 to August 2.
Fox’s story is a reminder that talent, hard work, and a supportive family can propel a modest athlete from a small town in Waikato to the pinnacle of the sport, inspiring future generations of New Zealand golfers to dream big and chase their own historic moments.