Lydia Ko has openly declared that she intends to "tap into her inner Foxy" as she sets her sights on adding another major championship to her résumé at the AIG Women's Open. The New Zealand star was moved to tears after watching compatriot Ryan Fox clinch a dramatic one‑stroke win at The Open earlier this month, a triumph that has sparked a surge of excitement across the Kiwi golf community. Fox’s victory at Royal Birkdale was historic.

By posting a birdie on the 18th hole, he secured a one‑stroke margin that made him only the third male golfer from New Zealand to win a major. The win was also the first Open Championship triumph for a New Zealander since Bob Charles lifted the Claret Jug in 1963 at Royal Lytham & St Annes – the very course where Ko will soon compete for her fourth major title and a second AIG Women’s Open crown. In her pre‑tournament press conference, Ko said, "I would love to keep the dice rolling.

I'm super‑excited for Foxy and for all of New Zealand golf after his win at Royal Birkdale. I’ve never been that nervous and thrilled watching someone else play. His back‑nine performance over the weekend was simply incredible.

It would be amazing to channel my inner Foxy and bring that fearlessness to my own game in the days ahead." Fox’s path to the Open title was nothing short of dramatic. After being eight strokes behind the leader at the halfway point, he shot a historic 62 in the third round, tying the lowest round ever recorded in a men’s major. That surge placed him just two shots off the lead heading into the final day, and he sealed the championship by birdieing two of his last three holes. Ko, who was watching the final moments of Fox’s triumph from the west coast of the United States, described the experience as an emotional roller‑coaster.

"I tried to work out, but everywhere I went I kept asking for The Open to be turned on," she recalled. "It wouldn’t play on the TV, so I switched to my phone.

I completely forgot my workout because my focus was entirely on the tournament. When I got home, I saw Fox’s final drive and I was both relieved and electrified.

I slammed the door, screamed, and my husband rushed in asking what was happening. Ten seconds later I was in tears – it was overwhelming. I can only imagine how he felt watching his countryman win." The 29‑year‑old Ko has had a mixed start to the 2026 major season. She missed the cut in the first two women’s majors of the year, but rebounded with a solid performance at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, finishing tied‑15th after a slow start, and later shared seventh place at the Amundi Evian Championship.

These results have placed her among a strong field that includes multiple major winners such as Nelly Korda and Haeran Ryu, both of whom have already added to their trophy cabinets this year. As Ko prepares for the opening rounds at the AIG Women’s Open, she acknowledges the difficulty of the course.

"I think winning would be very special," she said. "This is the toughest Women’s Open I have ever played.

When I think back to 2018, I remember a lot of bunkers that are still vivid in my memory. The course feels almost new now – they’ve tweaked a few holes, but it remains a demanding layout.

Even on a perfect day it plays hard, so a victory here would feel extra rewarding." Ko also highlighted the broader significance of a potential win for New Zealand golf. "With Foxy having won The Open, a victory for me would be incredibly meaningful and empowering for the sport back home," she added. The synergy between Fox’s historic triumph and Ko’s own quest for a second AIG Women’s Open title underscores a growing wave of Kiwi excellence on the global stage.

Broadcast coverage of the tournament will be provided exclusively by Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland. This year, Sky Sports is offering a new "Featured Groups" segment, beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday and Friday on Sky Sports Golf, followed by full coverage from 1 p.m.

The weekend rounds will be shown live from midday, delivering six additional hours of coverage compared with previous editions. Fans can follow the competition live throughout the week on Sky Sports Golf, or stream the action via the Sky Sports app without a contract. As the tournament unfolds, all eyes will be on Ko to see whether she can truly channel the fearless spirit of Ryan Fox and capture another major championship for herself and for New Zealand.