David Leggat: Grand effort thrill for folks, and NZ golf

Lydia Ko is No 2 in the women's game. Photo / Getty Images

These are good times for New Zealand golf.

Lydia Ko sits at No 2 in the women's game and eyeing her first major at the British Women's Open at Turnberry next week, and is still only 18; Danny Lee came within a smidgen of back-to-back victories on the US PGA Tour this month and is ranked No 69; the world truly appears their oyster.

As it does for Ryan Fox, who made his maiden appearance at a major an occasion he'll long remember.

Fox finished at four under 284 in a nine-way tie for 49th at St Andrews yesterday.

It mightn't sound that much but consider the players he ended level with - Hunter Mahan, Graeme McDowell, Lee Westwood and early pacesetter Dustin Johnson. And those he bettered - Els, Schwartzel, Kuchar among other notable names.

Of the nine who finished at 284, Fox was the only one to beat 70 in his final round as the five-day Open marathon wound down at the home of golf. Only four players, including winner Zach Johnson and playoff contender Marc Leishman, bettered his five-under 67 yesterday.

Fox, 28, can certainly play. He surely matched, at the least, his Open aspirations over the past few days.

He birdied his first and 72nd holes in the tournament, birdied the 18th three times and you'd bet thoroughly enjoyed himself.

Spare a thought for his parents, Grant and Adele. Grant Fox was a World Cup-winning All Black, a champion goal kicker and an athlete of high accomplishment.

But I'd wager he derived more delight from watching at first-hand his son perform so well at St Andrews than he would in reflecting on his own achievements.

Parents are like that. No matter their CV, nothing beats watching junior striving for the heights.

Fox snr, a rugby player imbued with a fierce drive to succeed, would have played every shot with his son, ridden the emotional ups and downs and, in a different way, probably ended as wrung out as Ryan would have when he plonked himself down in a chair after yesterday's round was over.

When young Fox reflects on events at St Andrews, he'll know he can compete with the best. Mentally he took a giant leap.

Watching his progress will be intriguing. His parents might not have called it fun, but it's not hard to imagine the swell of pride.

And that's an easy emotion any parent could relate to.