SOUTHPORT, England (AP) — Ryan Fox is the British Open champion, and it’s going to take time for that to sink in no matter how many times he watches the replay of a 12-foot birdie putt on the final hole, or how many times he stares at his name on the base of the silver claret jug.“I don’t know if it’s something I’ve dreamed of. I don’t know if it’s something I ever thought was possible,” Fox said after his one-shot victory Sunday. “But we’re here now.”It’s how he got there that sets him apart from so many other names on golf’s oldest trophy.Never mind the son of All Blacks rugby great Grant Fox didn’t play golf competitively until he was 17, or that all he ever wanted was to have a card on any tour. Fox had never finished better than a tie for 16th in 28 majors before arriving at Royal Birkdale.And to think Fox nearly quit before he even got started.It was his second year on the PGA Tour of Australasia and Fox was about to lose his card with two events left in the season when he went to the Australian Masters at Royal Melbourne.
“My dad came over and caddied for me, and he said to me, ‘Why do you play this game?’ And I said, ‘Well, it’s supposed to be fun.’ But it wasn’t really very fun at the time,” Fox said Sunday night, the silver claret jug at his side. “He goes, ‘Well, let’s just go out this week try to have some fun.”He did well enough to keep his card, and before long Fox was on his way on a path that culminated with a putt he only imagined in his dreams — a 12-foot birdie, the final shot of the 154th Open, middle of the cup, arms raised, face awash in joy and disbelief.
