Ryan Fox is looking forward to finding peace inside the ropes as the former winner returns to the BMW PGA Championship as a Major champion.
The Kiwi secured the biggest win of his career at the time at Wentworth Club in 2023 and went on to claim two wins on the PGA Tour before lifting the Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale in July.
With that has come the inevitable media attention from being one of golf's biggest names but the affable 39-year-old seems to be taking it all in his stride.
And he is looking forward to keeping his focus inside the ropes at a Rolex Series event that will see bumper crowds descend on DP World Tour HQ.
"Obviously it feels like everything's changed at the minute," he said. "I'm still getting used to that. Everything is busier. I feel like time management is hard. It's the stuff you kind of expect after doing something like that and yeah, it's still a process of getting used to it but it's nice to be back here and I do have great memories around here.
"I'm looking forward to the week and kind of treat the golf course a little bit like a sanctuary that I can still control what's going on for the most part out there, and kind of go with the flow."
Now a dual member, Fox plays much of his golf in the United States but this will be his ninth DP World Tour start of a season that has seen him take his career tally past 200.
He has found a warm welcome at Wentowrth and the man who has long been one of the most popular players on Tour is happy to be back in familiar territory.
"I always try to be myself in that regard and always felt like I get along with everyone easily," he said. "I have a lot of good friends out here and it's been pretty incredible. Coming back here, the reception has been incredible.
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"I've obviously done something right over the years to have that reception and it's not just from players, it's staff and caddies and everything else. From that regard, I've obviously handled myself fairly well over the last few years, and hopefully it doesn't come off as contrived.
"I'm just trying to be me. It's been great to have that reception over here."
Fox may be a popular figure in Surrey but that pales into comparison to his status in his sports-mad homeland, where he went from sportsman to superstar overnight.
And while home is 8,000 miles away from Fox's base in Florida, he has already taken the Claret Jug Down Under.
"When I got back to Florida on the Monday after The Open, I hadn't really even thought about it. I was just keen to get back and see the family," he said.
"And then my manager and my wife both were like, 'mate, you've got three weeks off now, maybe we should go back'. As soon as that kind of popped into my head, I was like, we have to do it, while it's fresh.
"Like I remember vividly what it was like when Michael Campbell won the U.S. Open in 2005 and how big it was for New Zealand. I was just starting my golf journey at that time, as well. Just started playing tournaments and stuff.
"So yeah, I felt like it was just the right thing to do. Originally we weren't planning ongoing back until the end of November. And yeah, it just wouldn't have felt the same."
