Seventeen years ago, Ryan Fox was a part of a historic New Zealand delegation at the inaugural Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in 2009 in Shenzen, China. At the time, professional golf seemed like a pipedream, and in fact, the 22-year-old missed the cut in his debut after rounds of 77-79.
Nearly two decades later, the Kiwi with an unconventional swing and an unconventional path to professional golf made history for his country at The Open in 2026, becoming the fourth overall major champion from New Zealand and second champion at The Open, 63 years after Sir Bob Charles.
“[It’s] Surreal, to be honest,” said Fox. “It's something you dream of. I used to get up in the middle of the night to watch this tournament back home. It was always something that was there just to be able to play in it, first up, and now to be an Open champion, to be the Champion Golfer of the Year, it's unbelievable, surreal, crazy. I don't have enough words in my vocabulary to explain it, to be honest.”
Fox outlasted American stalwarts Cameron Young and Sam Burns with an emphatic birdie at the 72nd hole, raising two hands in the air to celebrate in front of a raucous crowd at Royal Birkdale. In winning The Open, Fox became the third alumni of the Asia-Pacific Amateur to win a major champion, joining Hideki Matsuyama (2021 Masters) and Cameron Smith (2022 Open).
"To be an Open champion, to be the Champion Golfer of the Year, it's unbelievable, surreal, crazy. I don't have enough words in my vocabulary to explain it."
Ironically, one of Fox’s early glimpses at the highest levels of golf came at the 2011 Asia-Pacific Amateur, when he played alongside Matsuyama, the reigning champion.
“I have plenty of stories from the AAC, meeting great people, some great functions, being part of the NZ team, and playing some amazing courses,” reflected Fox. “One that sticks out was playing in 2011 with the defending champion Hideki Matsuyama. Obviously, he had just played in The Masters that year, and playing with him was a thrill in itself, but he hit a 60-meter pitch shot on 17, which straight away he dropped a hand off the club and turned away in disgust, only for the ball to finish one inch from the hole. We had a great laugh about it walking up to the green, but for me, I got to see first-hand how good the two-time AAC and future Masters champion really was.”
While his career had already been an inspiration to New Zealanders, claiming a major championship adds to his legacy in his homeland and across the Asia-Pacific. It comes at a time when golf is surging in New Zealand, with Te Arai Links, Fox’s home course, set to host the 2026 Asia-Pacific Amateur in October.
Photos from the 154th Open
Last summer, Fox remembered his time competing in the Asia-Pacific Amateur and the legitimacy it brought to amateur golf in the region.
“It’s a chance to live out your dream as an amateur and that’s pretty cool,” said Fox. “It was certainly important in my development as a player, and I know a lot of guys from our neck of the woods have felt the same over the years…It’s had a great variety of winners and a lot of impact around the Asia-Pacific region.
“It is a massive event, not just on the amateur golf calendar, but on the golf calendar. Playing the first couple, we got treated better than we’d ever been treated at a tournament. I had never played a major and never played a tour event at that point, and it was a huge step up trying to achieve a dream.”
During his champion press conference at The Open, Fox reminded the attending press that the Asia-Pacific Amateur would be in New Zealand this fall.
“I was very excited when I heard the news that the Asia-Pacific was going to Te Arai Links; it’s such an iconic tournament,” said Fox when the announcement was made in 2025. “I can’t wait to watch it. I’ve played the golf course too many times to count, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it plays in tournament conditions.”
