Golf: Why Ryan Fox chose not to follow in footsteps of All Black dad

Ryan Fox as his dad Grant Fox looks on. Photo / Photosport

Being the son of an All Black great may have led Ryan Fox towards choosing golf over rugby.

It seemed inevitable that Fox – who is the son of celebrated All Black Grant Fox – would follow in his famous father's footsteps, but it may have been the thing that drove the Kiwi golfer away from the sport.

In a column for the Players Voice, Grant Fox writes about the pressure that was put on his son in schoolboy rugby.

"A No.10 and a goal-kicker," Fox Sr begins the column.

"Playing those two roles probably made it even more challenging for my son, Ryan Fox, in schoolboy rugby. Inevitably, if you're in the same code as your father played, there will be comparisons drawn."

The former All Blacks star – who scored 645 points in a storied test career – said Ryan was even targeted on the rugby field for being the "son of an All Blacks flyhalf", and that he is happy that Ryan ended up succeeding on his own terms.

"I only ever noticed it overtly in one game but he's spoken about being targeted on the field, due to being the son of an All Blacks flyhalf. He reckons he often heard, 'Let's smash Fox's kid'.

"I'm pleased, in a way, that he's chosen to do something different in his sporting career and is carving his own way.

"His golf career has flipped things on its head. Ryan is now rightly being recognised for what he's doing himself. In rugby, he would perhaps have always been known as the son of Grant Fox, whereas in golf, I'm the father of Ryan Fox."

Fox played the same position as his father, first five-eighth, but ended up choosing golf after suffering a few head knocks while playing rugby at school.

"Too many concussions," Fox told the Guardian.

"I had a good four or five serious concussions in my careers playing rugby at school. I love rugby but in the end I caught the golf bug and I'm sure most golfers can attest to that.

"Once you catch the bug it's pretty hard to think of anything else. I think it's been a pretty good decision."

Fox will hope to continue his recent run of form at the British Open where he made the cut after an even round 71 on the second day to sit nine shots back from joint leaders Zach Johnson and Kevin Kisner.