Champions of Change: Ryan Fox
Meet Ryan Fox, HIA #51 and professional golfer.
Having been on the professional green scene since 2012, this legend has used his powerful swing to claim many a victory over the years, including the 2023 BMW PGA Championship. Coming from a family of pro athletes, it’s only natural that Ryan has taken the international golfing scene by storm. But what else it is that drives him to keep pushing the boundaries, both on and off the course?
We sat down with him to learn more.
Morning Ryan.
Heya Marcus.
Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that defined your path as an athlete?
Getting through the Challenge Tour in 2016 and gaining my full European Tour card for the 2017 season was a defining moment in my career. Getting on a major tour was a huge goal ticked off and set me on the path to where I am now.
Who has been your biggest inspiration in sports or life, and why?
I would have to say my family. Both my father and grandfather represented NZ through sport.
My dad Grant for the All Blacks, and my grandfather Merv Wallace played cricket for NZ. All my earliest memories with them are sport related, and I always wanted to follow in their footsteps
and be a sportsman.
What’s the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Do everything to be the best you can be, regardless of the outcome you can always be satisfied being the best version of yourself.
Ryan Fox after winning the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St. Andrews.
What does a typical training day look like for you?
I play a lot of golf for training. So a normal day is generally doing some work with my coach or solo on different parts of the game, a gym session, then playing a round.
What’s the strangest yet most effective training that's worked for you?
I’ve got nothing that’s really all that strange to be honest. However compared to a lot of my peers,
I play a lot more golf in off weeks and that seems to work for me rather than defined practice
Do you have a pre-game ritual, song, or meal?
Nothing at all. I have the same warm up routine of; putting drills, hit balls, chip, putt before I tee off, but that’s also not a strict routine.
How do you stay motivated?
I still have some goals I want to tick off in my career, and I also want to keep providing for my family.
What techniques do you use to stay focused and composed?
It’s the old golf cliche of sticking to the process, routines and a bit of breathing.
What has been the biggest challenge you've faced in your career and how did you overcome it?
I almost gave up and lost my status at the end of 2013. The way of overcoming it was going back to why I played the game. Which was that it was fun. I managed to find the fun in it again, and that changed everything for me.
What is it about your mindset that's enabled you to succeed in your sport?
I feel like I’ve always been able to compete under pressure which is important in all sports, but golf is such a mental game it’s been very helpful. Being under pressure makes me very single minded and for some reason makes it easier for me to focus.
Cheers Ryan, really appreciate your answers. An important reminder to enjoy
what it is that you’re playing, that’s why we’re all here in the first place.
Stay tuned as Ryan defends the BMW PGA title from 2023 as he competes in the 2024 edition
of the tournament at Wentworth Club.
To follow Ryan @ryanfoxgolfer
