Lydia Ko aims to 'channel inner Foxy' inspired by Ryan Fox's Open win, targets fourth major

Lydia Ko wants to "channel her inner Foxy" and push for more New Zealand major success at the AIG Women's Open, having been reduced to tears by Ryan Fox's win at The Open.

Fox claimed a dramatic one-shot victory at Royal Birkdale earlier this month, where a final-hole birdie saw him become only the third men's major champion from New Zealand. The 39-year-old's win was the first New Zealand success at The Open since Bob Charles lifted the Claret Jug in 1963 at Royal Lytham & St Annes — the same venue where Ko will chase a fourth major title and second AIG Women's Open victory.

Ko on Fox's Victory

"I would love to keep the dice rolling," Ko said in her pre-tournament press conference. "Super-excited for Foxy [Ryan Fox] and the whole of golf in New Zealand for his win just up the road at Royal Birkdale.

"I don't think I've been that nervous and that excited watching somebody else play. Just his whole back nine and the way he played over the weekend was incredible.

"It would be cool to channel my inner Foxy and his fearlessness out there these next few days."

Fox's Dramatic Path to Victory

Fox had been eight strokes off the halfway lead before equalling men's major history with a third-round 62, leaving him two back heading into the final day. He then birdied two of his last three holes to close out the major victory.

Ko, who was watching Fox's win from the west coast of the USA, described her emotional reaction:

"I went to go work out and everywhere I went I was like 'please turn on The Open'. It ended up not working on the TV, so I had it on my cell phone.

"I can't remember my workout at all because my whole focus was there. I took an Uber ride back home. As soon as I got home he was on the 18th — when I saw that drive I was relieved but so excited, super-pumped.

"I went in, I closed the door and I screamed. My husband ran out and was like 'what's happening?' Ten seconds later, I was just crying. It was emotional for me. I can only imagine what it was like for him!"

Ko's Recent Form

Ko missed the cut in the first two women's majors of the year before recovering from a slow start to the KPMG Women's PGA Championship to finish tied-15th, then shared seventh at the Amundi Evian Championship.

The 29-year-old plays alongside Nelly Korda and Haeran Ryu — both multiple major winners in 2026 — over the first two rounds at the AIG Women's Open, with Ko aware of the challenging test ahead as she looks to lift the trophy for a second time in three years.

Looking Ahead to Royal Lytham

"I think it [winning] would be very special," Ko said. "I think this is the toughest Women's Open I have ever played. I don't know what I thought when I played in 2018 — might have been in a lot of bunkers that are on the golf course that are in my memory bank.

"It actually feels like a very new course to me. I know they made a little bit of adjustments on a couple of the holes, but it's a hard golf course. Even on a pretty perfect day it's playing hard. So when you win on that kind of calibration..."

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