Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
SELECT 👉 Basin Reserve feed
Fox’s fast start signals a strong season ahead
Sport Nation • December 9th, 2025 12:11 pm
Ryan Fox at the 2024 Chasing The Fox event at Royal Auckland & Grange Golf Club | Photo: Brett Phibbs/Photosport
Ryan Fox has launched into a demanding summer stretch after two months away from competition, returning from Brisbane refreshed and eager for a new challenge as he heads into his annual Chasing The Fox charity event.
His comeback began at the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland, where he finished tied for 39th - but more importantly, rediscovered form faster than he expected.
“After eight weeks off I didn't quite know what to expect,” Fox admitted to Sport Nation’s Scotty & Izzy.
“I kind of surprised myself that first week in Queensland. I was right there through twenty-seven holes and then just made a couple of silly mistakes and struggled with the putter… I kinda walked off going, ‘Well, there were some positives.’”
He carried that mindset into the Australian Open and immediately made noise, opening with a blistering first round to share the top of the leaderboard alongside Elvis Smylie and Carlos Ortiz.
What followed was a mix of promising stretches and tough patches on one of the world’s most unforgiving layouts.
“I got off to a really hot start on a really tough day on Thursday and then just couldn't put it together after that,” he said.
“Played well on Friday, didn't hole any putts… got off to an awful start on Saturday, which Royal Melbourne can do to you very quickly without doing much wrong, and came back really nicely.
"Sunday was probably the worst round I played in those eight rounds, but managed to get away with it - short game saved me - and then made an eagle on seventeen, which made the round feel a little bit better."
Ryan Fox's ongoing support home and abroad | Sport Nation
He finished seven-under and tied for 14th - another reminder that his game is in a better place than he expected after so much time away.
“It’s obviously there,” he said of his confidence.
“I've never been that good after a break. I'd normally have to play my way into a little bit of form and it didn't take as long as I thought it would. There's a lot of good stuff to take into early next year.”
Now, Fox turns his attention to hosting duties as Chasing The Fox returns this Friday. The event has attracted a long list of well-known New Zealanders, something he still finds a little surreal.
“It's pretty impressive to have so many people, iconic New Zealanders, play in an event with my name on it.”
He’ll team up with Dan Hillier, who has been in superb form with a fifth-place finish in the Australian PGA and sixth at the Australian Open. Their success is part of a broader surge in New Zealand golf, something Fox believes is no coincidence.
“I think golf's in a really good place both professionally and recreationally in this country,” he said.
“We've also got a bunch of really good golf courses which are creating a buzz around the world, which is pretty cool, and long may it continue.”
He even credits the pandemic (unexpectedly) for helping drive the sport’s growth.
“I think about the only thing we can thank COVID for is a resurgence in golf. It sounds weird, but it was the one game you could play… A lot of people realised golf's actually quite cool.”
“You get four hours out of the house, walking around a golf course is pretty nice. Drinking… whether it's before, during or after. Having a couple of beers is not frowned upon!”
Listen to the full interview below:
