Golf: Ryan Fox to play with Shane Warne at European Tour event this week

Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox and Aussie cricket legend Shane Warne. Photo / Getty

Top New Zealand golfer Ryan Fox is relishing the chance to again mix it with some of sport's biggest names over the next few days in Scotland.

Fox tees off tonight in the first round of the Alfred Dunhill Championships, one of the European Tour's flagship events played on three famous courses, the old course at St Andrews, this year's British Open host Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.

The Pro-Am format has Fox playing with Aussie cricket legend Shane Warne as he did last year. He will play his first round at St Andrews, the second at Kingsbarns and third at Carnoustie before the cut is made for the final round at St Andrews.

"Warney was one of my idols growing up, I bowled a little bit of leg spin growing up so am looking forward to playing with him again this year." Fox said.

The world number 82 will also be in the same group as English cricketers Michael Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen and media personality Piers Morgan.

Fox is currently 12th on the European Tour money list and on track to qualify for the season ending European Tour Championship in Dubai.

He has the British Masters next week before heading to Shanghai for the World Golf Championship event and then the lucrative Rolex series tournaments in Turkey, followed by Sun City next month in South Africa before the tour finale.

"I have a lot of chances but this is a good stepping stone and has a great field and great world ranking points on offer as well," Fox said.

European Ryder Cup star Tyrell Hatton is the defending champion this week with another star performer from the European team Tommy Fleetwood also playing while American Ryder Cup players Tony Finau and Brooks Koepka are also in the field.

The cut is made after the first three rounds and Fox has missed the cut in his two previous appearances.

"The tournament hasn't necessarily treated me well in the past so I would certainly like to change that," Fox said. "Carnoustie has kicked my butt but thankfully I got to play that a few times in the Open Championships this year."

He is pleased with the draw which has him playing St Andrews first up tonight (10.39pm NZT tee off) the easiest of the courses when the wind blows as forecast for the opening day.

"St Andrews is the most playable in the wind. You can still put a decent score on the board there as either the front nine or back nine usually plays down wind.

"Kingsbarns is one of the courses where there is always good scoring but I think in the wind that can play really tough and Carnoustie is a bit of a brute and I am glad I don't have that first day in the wind."

Meanwhile after watching the Ryder Cup last weekend, Fox has made it one of his goals to make the international team for next year's Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne.

"I would love to make that team, I have a lot of work to do to get there and it is definitely a goal.

"In the past it has definitely been second to the Ryder Cup and the international team has probably struggled a little bit in the past with what the US team had this week. It's hard to bring a lot of guys from different cultures.

"Ernie [Els] is the captain for the Presidents Cup next year and if I can focus on playing some good golf I have a chance."