20 Things You Didn't Know About Ryan Fox

Ryan Fox is a New Zealand professional golfer playing on the PGA and DP World Tours. He is a three-time winner on the European Tour and earned his PGA Tour card for the 2024 season. 

Get to know Fox a little bit better with these 20 facts…

1. Ryan Fox was born on 22 January 1987 in Auckland, New Zealand.

2. His dad, Grant, played rugby for the All Blacks as a fly-half when New Zealand won the 1987 World Cup. He played 46 times for his country and scored 645 points.

3. His grandfather, Merv Wallace, played cricket for New Zealand in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s.

4. Fox turned professional in 2012.

5. His first win as a professional came at the 2012 Fiji Open and then he won again a month later at the Tahiti Open.

6. He has 17 professional wins and, after joining the DP World Tour, has picked up three titles, the most recent of which came at the 2023 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

7. He is a keen fisherman away from the golf course.

8. Fox wears Peter Millar apparel and he is also signed up to use Srixon golf clubs too. He also has ties to Sports Inc, Taylormade and Footjoy.

9. He represented New Zealand when golf returned to the Olympics for the first time since 1904 in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. He finished T39 in the 60-player field. He also represented his country at the 2016 and 2018 World Cup of Golf.

10. His best finish in a Major came at the 2019 Open Championship, where he finished in a tie for 16th.

11. Fox is one of the longest hitters on the DP World Tour. He finished in the top 10 in driving distance on tour for six of the last seven years.

12. Over the last decade, he’s significantly improved in the putting arena – going from a below average putter on the DP World Tour to a top-10 player in Putts Per Green in Regulation.

13. ox's caddie is Dean Smith, a South African who has looped for several players on the DP World Tour. They've been together since 2022.

14. Fox married his wife, Anneke Ryff, in 2019. The couple have two daughters Isobel and Margot. 

15. He’s a keen sports fan, especially when it comes to New Zealand sport. He often golfs with current All Blacks rugby players and Kiwi cricket stars, and regularly posts on social media about sport. 

16. After one win and two top-threes in 2023 on the DP World Tour, he earned his PGA Tour card as one of the top-10 finishers on the season-long European standings.

17. He has won over $10 million in prize money during his career. 

18. His highest rank on the Official World Golf Ranking was 23rd when he won twice in 2022.

19. He is a late-bloomer, only earning his DP World Tour card in 2017 when he was in his 30s. 

20. His nickname with friends, family and fans is Foxy.

Who is Ryan Fox’s father?

Fox comes from a sporting family. His dad, Grant, is one of the greatest fly-halfs in New Zealand rugby history, and was an integral member of the All Blacks team that won the World Cup in 1987. Fox’s grandfather played cricket for New Zealand and was a former test captain.

How far does Ryan Fox hit the ball?

Fox has regularly averaged over 315 yards on the DP World Tour over the last few years. While not the most accurate from the tee, he hits it a mile. 

Ryan Fox career earnings

Fox has won over $10 million in prize money across his career. He has won three times on the European tour.