Ryan Fox was something of a late bloomer. The personable Kiwi didn’t turn pro until he was 24 and didn’t land his first tour title for another three years.
That title was the 2014 WA Open, which he won by six strokes at Cottesloe GC, setting a winning total of 23-under-par that has yet to be matched.
Fast forward 12 years, and Fox is now the Champion Golfer of the Year, having clinched the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale by a single stroke.
He did it in thrilling fashion, too, birdieing the punishingly long par-four 18th to edge out US hopeful Cam Young, who had set the clubhouse target of -9 several hours earlier.
As more-heralded challengers failed to meet the moment, Fox played three of the greatest consecutive shots he will ever play in his life at Birkdale’s toughest hole to claim the Claret Jug.
The tee shot was blistered 330 yards into the fairway. His 9-iron from 175 yards flirted with the right trap before coming to rest 12 feet from championship glory. The putt rolled in, Fox starting to celebrate before the ball hit the bottom of the cup.
Ryan Fox’s path to the Claret Jug was kick-started by his WA Open triumph in 2014 (Pic: Getty Images)
The win was perhaps even more remarkable given that Fox only scraped into the weekend, one shot under the cut mark, at level par for the championship.
A scintillating eight-under-par 62 on Saturday catapulted Fox into contention, and he was out in the final group on Sunday alongside Sam Burns. The rest is history.
“It’s unbelievable, to be honest. I still don’t know what to think,” Fox said shortly after collecting the Claret Jug. “My nerves are all over the place. I’m not quite sure how I hit that putt on 18.
“It’s a dream come true. Looking at this trophy now is the first time I’ve seen it up close, so it’s pretty amazing. Champion Golfer of the Year’s got a pretty good ring to it.”
As well as becoming just the fourth New Zealander to win a Major — behind Bob Charles, Lydia Ko and Michael Campbell — Fox’s victory at Birkdale also earned him entry into another elite group.
Alongside Greg Norman, Gary Player, Ian Baker-Finch and Kel Nagle, Fox is now one of just five golfers to have completed the coveted WA Open/Open Championship career double!
The 2026 WA Open Golf Championship takes place at Secret Harbour Golf Links from October 15-18. Spectators enjoy free entry all week.
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