'He plays the way the game should be played': NZ golf great praises Ryan Fox
It’s taken 63 years, but Sir Bob Charles is as delighted as anyone to see another New Zealander’s name etched onto the Claret Jug awarded to the winner of the Open Championship.
Charles’ victory in 1963 was the first major title by a Kiwi and the only win until Michael Campbell claimed the US Open in 2005.
“Now there’s three of us,” Charles said, referring to the men’s competition, while Dame Lydia Ko is the fourth New Zealander to win a major golf championship, having won three times.
Fox not only etched his name in history but also collected a winner’s cheque of NZ$5.5 million.
“I think it’s absolutely great for Ryan, of course, obviously, and it’s great for the game of golf, particularly here in New Zealand. I’m proud of what he did, what he achieved,” Charles said.
Bob Charles with the Claret Jug - British Open golf trophy. Photo / Supplied
New Zealand’s greatest ever golfer is a big fan of Fox – particularly the way he plays.
“Ryan is a refreshing player. He plays the way the game should be played, the way it] used to be played and should be played. And that is: you get on with it, and you don’t spend half an hour lining up every putt.
“I think it’s, it’s great to see somebody who gets on with the business instead of just walking around. Let’s hope that Ryan can be a great example of how the game should be played now, even when you’re playing for, you know, $100 million!”
Sir Bob Charles playing a shot out of a bunker.
The 90-year-old was replaying Fox’s victory on TV this morning when the Herald contacted him.
“I’m watching this in colour. In my day, it was all black and white. I’m watching every hole that he’s playing. In my day, they only had about the last three or four holes.”
Charles pointed out the very different finishes between Fox’s at Royal Birkdale and his own at Royal Lytham and St Annes.
“I had to hole a 4-footer to tie and of course he, what did he hole? It must have been a 10-footer to win,” Charles said.
There is a similarity in that Fox will try to defend his title at the home of golf – St Andrews in Scotland, next year. Charles faced the same challenge in 1964.
Charles, the first left-hander to win a major championship, says he’ll be in touch with Fox to pass on his congratulations.
“It’s great to have another major tournament winner out of New Zealand.”
Mike Thorpe is a senior multimedia journalist for the Herald, based in Christchurch. He has been a broadcast journalist across television and radio for 20 years and joined the Herald in August 2024.
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