Ryan Fox admits life has become considerably busier since winning The Open, with the Kiwi still adjusting to the attention that comes with being a major champion.
The 39-year-old is back in England for the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, his first tournament in the country since lifting the Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale in July.
Fox said the increased demands away from the course had taken some getting used to.
“I feel like I’m getting pulled all over the place, and off the golf course is quite hard at the moment — not in a bad way,” Fox told the DP World Tour.
“At the end of the day I’m like, well, have I actually done any golf today?”
Fox said Australian major champion Geoff Ogilvy had offered some advice about dealing with his new status.
“He just said, ‘Look, the first year is hectic, but the cool thing is it does get a little bit easier, but you will also have it for the rest of your life.’”
Fox’s victory at Royal Birkdale made him only the second New Zealander to win The Open, following Sir Bob Charles in 1963. He birdied the final hole to finish 10-under and beat Cameron Young by one shot.
His season continued with a place in the PGA Tour’s season-ending Tour Championship, while he also secured an automatic spot in the International Team for his Presidents Cup debut at Medinah.
The increased profile has been obvious at Wentworth.
“I think I signed more autographs today than I probably have in all my time playing here over the years,” Fox said.
“So I’m actually looking forward to getting out there tomorrow and worrying about that stuff — golf.”
Fox was grouped with two other 2026 major champions for the opening two rounds at Wentworth — England’s PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai and six-time major champion Rory McIlroy, who won his second Masters title earlier this year.
“Being in a marquee group this week with everyone around, that’ll get the juices flying big time,” Fox said. “Hopefully that kind of sparks something in the game a little bit.”
Fox has happy memories at Wentworth, having won the BMW PGA Championship there in 2023.
Fellow New Zealanders Daniel Hillier and Kazuma Kobori are also in the field.
