Reigning Open champion Ryan Fox will attempt to become the first Kiwi to win the Australian Open after confirming he will join US Masters champion Rory McIlroy at Kingston Heath in December.
It will be the first time the current titleholders of The Open and US Masters have played at the tournament since Gary Player in 1974, while Fox will be aiming to become the first Open champion to win the Australian Open in the same year since Bill Rogers in 1981.
Fox said it was an easy decision to fit the tournament into his schedule, which has become hectic since his dramatic win at Royal Birkdale in July, particularly when the 2026 version is being played at Kingston Heath.
Look away now if you are a member at Royal Melbourne. Fox agrees with the controversial view McIlroy expressed ahead of last year’s Australian Open: Kingston Heath is the best sandbelt course.
“My favourite sandbelt course is Kingston Heath,” Fox said from Korea where he is preparing to play this week.
Although keen not to upset anyone too much ahead of his return to the country where he learned to play the tough, uncompromising and sometimes brilliant golf which prevailed at The Open, he said rating one course above the other was splitting hairs.
But his preference was clear.
“I am definitely in Rory’s boat. I think my favourite is Kingston Heath on the sandbelt, but it is not like they are miles apart. You give me a chance to play either and I am very excited to play,” Fox said.
“It is just a personal thing. I just like the feel of Kingston Heath and the look of some of the shots. I have been lucky enough to play both in tournament conditions. [The chance to play] either of them I am not complaining.
“They are some of the best courses anywhere in the world but for me Kingston Heath’s just got it by a hair basically.”
Fox said the automatic admission Australian Open winners were granted into the US Masters and The Open had increased the incentive for the world’s best players to play in the tournament. But he said it was not the only reason the best players in the world were considering making an Australian summer part of their schedule. He said the momentum was real.
“If you look at who has won the Stonehaven cup, it’s pretty impressive. It’s the who’s who of golf, [and] it’s an event guys really, really want to play,” Fox said.
Fox finished equal 14th alongside McIlroy in last year’s Open won by Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen after being the joint leader at the end of the opening day.
He said his major victory had helped him feel as though he belongs among the sport’s big names and playing in the high-profile groups.
On the course, Fox has handled the expectation with comes with his new-found status, but he admitted he was battling to manage his time as effectively as he would like when it came to the increased expectations off the course.
One of the most down-to-earth and likeable players on the tour, Fox said he had sought the advice of US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy during the President’s Cup.
“He said it does calm down a bit, but the cool thing is it kind of never leaves you as well,” Fox said. “You will always be a major champion. There will always be a bit of extra buzz around.”
Fox said he has to get better at saying no to certain demands now that his downtime was not as free as it once was. He said he was looking forward to going on a fishing trip when the chance arose.
But he is far from complaining. He will arrive in Australia, knowing he has the claret jug, but also the game and mental resilience to contend in any tournament.
“[I know I] can deal with pressure. I can hit some good shots down the stretch when it really matters,” he said.
“Playing that well under pressure ... there is just a bit more belief there now.”
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