New Zealander Ryan Fox talks about impact national rugby team 'All Blacks' had on him growing up
Ryan Fox joins the set of "Live From The Open" to discuss what New Zealand's men's national rugby team means to him.
Video Transcript
It's so refreshing watching you play golf, as, as Rich was saying, how fast you play, how decisive you are, how aggressive you are, and how y- you're not bothered about the consequences.
I've been trying to educate these two guys last night and today- about the All Blacks.
I've been trying to educate them about the culture of a team and what the All Blacks represent and what they stand for, and I see the same in how you play golf.
Give them a little bit in your words, and maybe that'll help- That's- these guys- Oh, that's a- get better at the Ryder Cup.
I mean, from, from a, from a New Zealander, that's, w- well, to a New Zealander talking about the All Blacks, that's a pretty big compliment.
To be compared to them, you know, obviously we've I've got a lot of family heritage there with Dad playing for them for so many years.
I'm actually surprised you brought up the rugby after yesterday morning, too.
Oh, okay.
They beat Ireland yesterday.
But yeah, like that- the, they, uh- That's a good dig.
Yeah.
They, they Yeah, sorry.
I had to get that one in there.
Well done.
Um- You're on a roll.
Look, it, it's They're the most scrutinized team in New Zealand.
You know, everyone knows the All Blacks.
Everyone watches the All Blacks.
Even though rugby might be waning in popularity a little bit in terms of playing, it's still everyone talks about the All Blacks, and they've had such an iconic history.
Um- You know, they were always, from any team in the world, they were always the team to beat.
If we toured anywhere in the UK, you know, everyone wanted to beat us.
France always wanted to beat us.
South Africa wants to beat us.
It's And they always ho- hold themselves at such a, a high standard.
You know, I- Just talk a little bit about the culture of them.
The, what they represent and who they represent and- Well- how they go about it.
They've It's just excellence from them really.
You know, they've, they've had- And humility.
Humility.
But, yeah.
A lot of humility.
Lot of respect.
Yep.
I mean, it's, it's probably the greatest team ethos I've ever come across.
Yeah.
I mean, the, you know, the, the clearing the changing rooms after- Yeah after the game.
We talked about that last night.
Yeah.
you know, they, they will always go in with a drink, go in for, for a drink with the other team regardless of the result.
You know- But it's generally a win, so Well, yeah, they, they've got a pretty good record.
But, you know, to When they have every right to be- Arrogant arrogant- they're just not.
It's, it's like, you know, there's just an inherent no dickheads policy, and it's They've, they've just kept that up throughout the years and, you know, we've got a, we've got an incredible record, because of it and it's, yeah, as you s- as I said, to be compared to them is, is- Yeah is a huge compliment.
Every New Zealander is so proud of them.
You talk about scrutiny, the scrutiny of the All Blacks rugby team.
Obviously, being the son of a legend, there would be scrutiny on you.
Being such a great New Zealand golfer, there'd be scrutiny on you.
Trying to win a major championship, or the Open Championship for the second time for a New Zealander, I suspect there'd be scrutiny on you.
Do you ever feel that scrutiny growing up?
Did you ever feel the weight of your country growing up?
Pressure to perform?
Not particularly.
I mean, I, I felt a little bit playing rugby growing up.
I, I probably wasn't that smart.
I played the same position as Dad.
My dad used to kick goals as well, so I, I had to kick goals.
So there was always gonna be a direct comparison, and I was just not anywhere near that level.
And that was It was hard to live up to that, but I never had it s- too much with golf.
There was a bit more interest in what I did because of who Dad was, but I never had any pressure from home because of it.
And, I, I do feel like, you know, especially when I first got on the DP World Tour, I was the only Kiwi out here.
I'm the only Kiwi on the PGA Tour at the moment.
So there's, there i- there does feel like there's a little bit of pressure there.
You know, there's Feels like there's more eyeballs on me every week in that sense, even though, you know, we've only got five million people in New Zealand.
It's, you know, I wanna, I wanna do well for myself, but I also wanna do well for my country and, I think I did pretty well this week for-
