Lydia Ko has openly said she wants to "channel 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 fellow Kiwi Ryan Fox capture a dramatic victory at The Open earlier this month, and she hopes to draw on his fearless performance to fuel her own quest for glory. Fox’s win at Royal Birkdale was nothing short of sensational. The 39‑year‑old surged from eight strokes behind at the halfway point, carding a historic third‑round 62 that tied the lowest score ever recorded in a men’s major.
He then birdied two of his final three holes on Sunday, sealing a one‑stroke triumph that made him only the third New Zealander ever to win a men’s major. The last time a New Zealander lifted the Claret Jug was in 1963 when Bob Charles won at Royal Lytham & St Annes – the very course where Ko will compete for her fourth major title and a second AIG Women’s Open crown. "I would love to keep the dice rolling," Ko told reporters in her pre‑tournament press conference.
"I’m super‑excited for Foxy [Ryan Fox] and for New Zealand golf after his win at Royal Birkdale. I’ve never been that nervous and that excited watching somebody else play.
His back‑nine performance over the weekend was incredible. It would be cool to channel my inner Foxy and his fearlessness over the next few days." Ko described the emotional impact of Fox’s victory in vivid detail.
She was on the West Coast of the United States, trying to work out when she kept hearing people shout, "Please turn on The Open!" The television wouldn’t cooperate, so she switched to her phone. "I can’t remember my workout at all because my whole focus was there," she recalled.
She took an Uber home, and as soon as she walked through the door she saw Fox’s decisive 18th‑hole drive. "I was relieved but also super‑pumped.
I closed the door and screamed. My husband ran out asking what was happening, and ten seconds later I was crying. It was incredibly emotional for me, and I can only imagine how he felt." Ko’s own recent major record has been a mix of disappointment and resilience. She missed the cut in the first two women’s majors of the season, but she rallied at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, finishing tied‑15th after a slow start, and then posted a shared seventh‑place finish at the Amundi Evian Championship.
Now, at 29, she lines up alongside multiple major winners Nelly Korda and Haeran Ryu for the opening rounds of the AIG Women’s Open. The tournament presents a formidable test, and Ko acknowledges that the course feels fresh despite her previous triumph in 2018. "I think winning would be very special," Ko said. "This is the toughest Women’s Open I have ever played.
When I was here in 2018 I think I spent a lot of time in the bunkers that are still in my memory bank. It actually feels like a very new course to me now. I know they made a few adjustments on a couple of holes, but it’s still a hard golf course. Even on a perfect day it plays tough.
When you win on a course of this calibre, you feel an extra level of pride." She added that Fox’s recent Open victory adds extra meaning to her own ambitions. "With Foxy having won The Open, a win for me would be very meaningful and empowering for golf in New Zealand," she explained. Ko hopes her success will inspire the next generation of Kiwi golfers and reinforce the country’s growing reputation on the world stage. The AIG Women’s Open will be broadcast exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, with the new Featured Groups coverage kicking off at 9 a.m.
on Thursday and Friday on Sky Sports Golf. Full live coverage begins at 1 p.m., and the final two rounds will be shown from midday on the weekend. Viewers can also stream the tournament without a contract through Sky Sports’ online platform. Beyond the broadcast details, the tournament itself promises a compelling storyline.
Ko’s determination to emulate Fox’s fearless approach, combined with her own desire to cement a legacy of New Zealand golfing excellence, creates a narrative that extends beyond the fairways. Her emotional reaction to Fox’s win underscores how tightly interwoven the successes of New Zealand’s top golfers have become, each victory lifting the profile of the other. Ko’s preparation for the event has been meticulous. She has been working on both her short‑game precision and her mental resilience, aware that the AIG Women’s Open demands strategic shot‑making and the ability to stay composed under pressure.
The course’s undulating greens, deep bunkers, and unpredictable wind patterns require a blend of power and finesse, qualities Ko has demonstrated throughout her career. If Ko can harness the same composure that carried Fox to his historic win, she could very well add another chapter to New Zealand’s major‑champion saga. Her quest for a second AIG Women’s Open title not only represents personal ambition but also serves as a rallying point for New Zealand golf fans, who have already celebrated Fox’s triumph with great enthusiasm.
In summary, Lydia Ko is channeling the excitement, fearlessness, and emotional energy sparked by Ryan Fox’s Open victory as she prepares to compete at the AIG Women’s Open. She acknowledges the difficulty of the course, the significance of a potential win for her own legacy, and the broader impact such a victory would have on New Zealand golf. The tournament promises high drama, and Ko’s determination to "channel her inner Foxy" adds an inspiring personal dimension to the competition.