Golf: Fox misses PGA Tour but available for NZ Open

Auckland professional Ryan Fox has missed the First Stage of Qualifying for the PGA Tour next year but has the chance to fulfil another lifelong dream.

The 24-year-old son of All Black great Grant Fox, who has won three titles in his rookie season as professional, is now home to play the BMW NZ Open from November 22-25 for the first time as a pro.

He has quickly turned his attention to getting ready to make a strong challenge at the Clearwater Golf Club in Christchurch and end a nine-year drought of a home champion in the national open.

"It would mean the world to me to be a New Zealand Open champion," said Fox, who finished fourth at the New Zealand PGA Pro-Am Championship in March.

"I have been dreaming of it since I started playing competitive golf."

The big-hitting Fox has had a year to behold in 2012. It began at The Hills where he played superbly for a share of fourth.

"The NZ PGA was a big result for me this year. It made me truly believe I could compete in the pro ranks and really helped with my confidence going into the later part of the year."

He went on to win the Masterton Pro-Am and added titles in the Islands at the Fiji Open and Tahiti Open.

He leads the New Zealand PGA Order of Merit and has hit the ground running in his first year of the play for pay ranks.

"I can't put my finger on a single thing this year but all parts of my game seem to be more consistent. I am definitely driving it better and working hard on and off the golf course and it seems to be working well so far."

Fox, who made the cut at the BMW NZ Open in 2011, said he doesn't have any expectations for the premier golfing championship in New Zealand. But the goal is always to win.

"I feel pretty comfortable playing on the Australasian Tour this year and I have given myself a chance in a couple of Tier Two events. It would be good to give myself a chance at the BMW NZ Open."