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‘My head was scrambled’: Ryan Fox adjusting to life as a major champion
Sport Nation • August 13th, 2026 9:14 am
Ryan Fox kisses the Claret Jug | Photo: Matthew Harris/Golf Picture Agency
Ryan Fox admits he still has not fully processed becoming a major champion, as he prepares for his return to PGA Tour action at the St. Jude Championship, starting Friday (NZ time).
Fox shared his life on tour had changed noticeably following his Open Championship triumph, with extra attention from fans, media and fellow players creating what he described as a “new normal.”
“I still haven’t properly processed it yet,” Fox told Sport Nation’s Scotty & Izzy ahead of his return.
After taking a month off and missing two rounds of tournaments, he admitted he couldn’t bring himself to compete.
“There was no way I was playing at least those first two weeks. My head was completely scrambled.
“I still catch myself every once in a while going, ‘Oh crap, you’re a major champion - what does that mean?’”
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The New Zealander said the response from others in the game had been “overwhelmingly positive,” but he was still adjusting to the attention that now comes with being a major winner.
“I think I signed more autographs in the pro-am today than I’ve probably signed all year out on the PGA Tour,” he shared.
“There is a new normal and it’s going to take a little bit to get used to that.”
Fox said some of the moments since his win had underlined the scale of what he had achieved. He revealed Jordan Spieth had joked with him about the Claret Jug, while Rory McIlroy had congratulated him and mentioned next year’s Champions’ Dinner at St Andrews.
“Rory comes up to me today, gives me a massive hug, says, ‘I’m really happy for you,’” Fox said.
“He goes, ‘That Champions’ Dinner at St Andrews next year is going to be really fun.’
“I’m like, I don’t even really know there’s a Champions’ Dinner at St Andrews. So that’s a cool little addition.”
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Despite the off-course attention, Fox said he hoped the golf course could provide a sense of normality this week.
“The good thing is the golf still feels like golf,” he said.
“I’m going to try to treat the golf course as my sanctuary this week - get out there and just hit some shots and try to treat that as normal as possible.
“The golf ball has no memory of anything that happened. This game can humble you very, very quickly if you think you’ve figured it out.”
New Zealand's Ryan Fox celebrates on the 18th green after winning the British Open | Photo: AP
Fox said he had no major expectations heading into the St Jude Championship, but believed his best golf was good enough to contend.
“The goal this week is just to go out and try to have some fun again,” he said.
“I don’t have high expectations, but I do know that if my best golf comes out, I can compete and beat these guys out here.”
Fox will play alongside Adam Scott in a marquee grouping for the opening round, a pairing he said he was looking forward to.
He expects TPC Southwind to provide a very different challenge from The Open, with extreme heat, humidity, Bermuda grass, thick rough and plenty of water hazards.
“It’s about as far removed from Birkdale as you could possibly get,” Fox said.
“If I drive the ball well, I can definitely compete around here this week. But if you don’t drive it well, which I didn't last year at all, this golf course is really, really hard.”
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Fox said his game still felt strong, but the challenge would be managing the emotion and attention that comes with his new status.
“My golf game still feels really good,” he said.
“It’s a question of, can I get out of my own way to let it happen again?”
Listen to the full interview below:
