Ryan Fox has worked his way up to 25th ranked golfer in the world. Photo: Photosport
New Zealand golfer Ryan Fox reflects on overcoming equipment dramas to secure the biggest win of his career, which has seen him scale the rankings to 25th in the world.
Yesterday, Fox won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at the home of golf - the Old Course at St Andrews in Fife, Scotland.
The Kiwi number one didn't have the best preparation for the tournament, when his clubs went missing after a flight to Paris, but they returned just in time for his big win.
"The win was fantastic. There was a bit of relief with some nerves coming down the stretch," Fox said.
"For a golfer, there's no better place to be" - Ryan Fox on big win at St Andrews
He played alongside the late Shane Warne at the same tournament several times, and said the former Australian cricketer was on his mind as he walked down the famous 18th fairway.
"The biggest thing I felt was probably a sense of loss, and probably feeling a little bit proud that I could honor Warnie in in that way.
"I've played with him the last four years it's been held and I've played a fair bit of golf with them outside of that."
Fox said Warne loved the event, and could feel the leg-spinner there with him as the event came down to the wire.
"There was certainly some sadness there, but it also felt like he was sort of there the whole week with me.
"I had a couple of things going my way on Sunday that previous weeks may not have.
"Whether that's just luck or whether Warnie was helping me from from above or something like that, I don't know, but it definitely felt like he was there with me on on Sunday."
Winning at St Andrews was very special, he said.
"For a golfer, there's no better place to be. There's so much history there.
"To be a small part of it, you're definitely thinking about it coming down the last few holes.
"There's so many iconic things, it's hard not to think about those things and stay focused."
Having his wife, child and parents in attendance was the cherry on top for Fox.
"It was fantastic, it's the first time my wife has seen me win on the on the DP World Tour.
"I've won a couple of times previously where she hasn't traveled.
"And then to have mum and dad here as well was very special."
The win is all the more remarkable due to the kerfuffle Fox went through trying to track down his golf clubs, which had gone missing at the airport the pervious week in France.
His equipment manufacturer made up a new set for him to use, before his clubs eventually arrived at the eleventh hour.
"My golf bag turned up in Edinburgh on Thursday afternoon. The tournament was good enough to get one of the courtesy car drivers to find it in Edinburgh Airport and bring it up that night."
The ever honest Fox revealed that the real obstacle of lost equipment was in fact not having the right shoes.
"The biggest thing for me was I wear orthotics. I've got flat feet and bowed legs, unfortunately genetics didn't help me in that regard.
"The orthotics were missing and I really struggled with that in France and and so it didn't feel great the first round at Saint Andrews when I had really sore feet.
"So to get the orthotics back was a big thing as well."
Fox is now set to make his first appearance at the Masters event next April, thanks to his top-50 ranking.