22 Jul 26 | Mysite

Ryan Fox
Champion Golfer 2026
The Open Championship

Call me old fashioned but I think The Open Championship is the best major. It has the history, it is arguably the most global of the 4 majors, and it's not attended by fans screaming " get in the hole" or "mashed potato". In New Zealand terms it has the most mana.

We'll all have our own stories about how we followed this. Whether people stayed through the night or got up early and watched it live. Or found out by text or e-mail or browsing a webpage. Or maybe you've just found out now !!

All the chat in Europe that I'm following to a person says it couldn't have been won by a nicer more genuine guy. In his post golf comments I don't know what you've seen but he comes across as humble and stunned by the achievement he'd just pulled off. The other chat is the kahunas he showed by standing on the 18th tee knowing he needed birdie to win and he said to his caddie "we're going to go for this and I'm going to try and make birdie. I might never be in this position ever again. If I fail and make bogey I can live with that. But I won't be able to live with myself knowing I could have won but didn't try." Wow. Next time you or I are 2 up in a haggle with 3 to play the lesson is you don't go defensive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-kZfCZU9bg

This YouTube link if it works is a good watch.

So we start this week by celebrating Ryan Fox becoming the fourth New Zealander to win a major golf championship and the next in line after Sir Bob Charles to win the Open Championship.

Gripper Grant Comes To A Sticky End In A Dark Dunny

This story came to me from an anonymous source.....

At last Wednesdays 19th hole proceedings there was the usual last group having a final 12oz before heading home. With Becs patiently cleaning up glasses on the table, we took the hint then all got up and made our way to the exit and homeward bound. Three of us decided to use the upstairs bathroom, while Bruce thought he could not wait and went downstairs to the men's locker room and did his gripping business in the dark.

Meanwhile we finished up and Becs farewelled us out the main door, turned out the lights and headed for home. So this left Bruce locked up in the golf club with nowhere to go.

Fortunately, he had his cellphone and after ringing Craig, then for Becs to return and extract him from his predicament. This could only happen to Bruce !

Meanwhile In Straya ...

The boys have headed west across the ditch but word has it they were somewhat delayed getting there.

Day 1 was played at Peregian Springs and the boys played a reverse Irish stableford also known as 4 - 3 - 2. The money was equally shared but there is one story which needs a call out.

History suggests that scoring 30 points on tour is not an easy task. One person stood tall on the first day and scored not only 30 points but notched up 40 points. That man was Geoff Laney.

The question is .....

Is 40 points on tour a record ?

Just heard another story worth sharing and I'll use it here as David Peart is on tour.

Fact Number 1: David Peart won't use a ball he's found as he thinks it brings bad luck. A lost ball has bad ju-ju.

Fact Number 2: Ernie Els would always change his ball each time he had a birdie. He believed any golf ball only had one birdie in it.

Any other superstitions we need to know about ?

Tales From Afar

You've got to admire the hats. Budgie, Jacqui, Mr and Mrs Meder and Mr and Mrs Todd are golfing in Thailand where it's a bit on the warm side. Rick advises..

Thailand has started with very hot 🥵 temperatures. Mid 30s each day so far. We are playing golf ⛳️ tomorrow at Pineapple Country Club. Should be a citrus of fun in expected 35 degrees +. Attached are round one photos including our tour hats. Derek had a hard first round. Tummy was playing up but came good in the second nine. 45 and 36. Boys beat the Girls in game one. Neil McDonald was as steady as usual.

Tales From Afar - 2

Not much to report this week as have been on a small boat cruising down the Norwegian Coast. It's a lot like NZ, fjords and mountains, weather variable, but far more remote.

This is our arrival into Tromso at exactly midnight. North of the Arctic Circle it's hard to find a dark, dark night. Good thick curtains or a sleep mask are a must.

Back to Scotland tomorrow and playing Blairgowrie on Friday.

Finally - Meanwhile Back in Dunedin

Holy Grail Hunt

The greatest president in waiting (Bolty) ( that's a big call ..... ) to ever grace the Wagglers podium amassed a team of previous Blue Jacket winners which has had no equal in 2026! The team of Attenborough, Ellis R., Woodham and the ‘Pres-in waiting’ collected the first two sixes with 31 and 41 points, and after only totalling 44 points for the last six, the pres-for-a-day was looking to fire the under performing member of the team (no names). As that six went to BC, Hubby, Brownie and the POD, with a score of 47.

The best Stableford for the day was 38 points, which was achieved by Tony A, Hubby and your humble servant and scribe, Trevor Trump. On count back, Tony A was the winner, having parred the 18th for 3 points, which also meant he won the trip to Balclutha with two birdies.

Four out of five for the presidential team. Not a bad effort. ( But no Holy Grail )

The raffle was the ATM’s last chance at ‘break even’, but after several draws, Richard Ellis’ number came out, which was great because he won $25, which was the same number of stablefords that he contributed to the presidential team! Sorry Richard, it just slipped out!

One other thing, a very benevolent John Cutler shouted a round of whiskies which was mutually decided would be a toast to the magnificent win by Ryan Fox, the Champion Golfer of the Year (great ring to it, don't you think).