![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1792479853_551_ImageResizer.ashx.jpeg\"\/)
https:\/\/premier.ticketek.com.au\/Shows\/Show.aspx?sh=AUSOPEN26&utm_source=GolfAusWeb&utm_medium=Web&utm_campaign=AO&utm_content=TOS&utm_term=WorldsBest<\/a><\/p>\nMcIlroy set tongues wagging in the media centre at Royal Melbourne ahead of last year\u2019s Australian Open when he said Kingston Heath was, in fact, his favourite course in Melbourne.<\/p>\n
Fox agreed and for very specific reasons, noting the two were only split by the barest of margins in his mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cKingston Heath is one of my favourite courses anywhere in the world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s not like they’re miles apart. You give me a chance to play either and I\u2019m excited.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s just a personal thing. I just like the feel of Kingston Heath and the look of some of the shots, and I’ve been lucky enough to play both quite a few times in tournament conditions.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m certainly not complaining about either. They are some of the best courses anywhere in the world, but just, you know, for me, Kingston Heath has just got it, by a hair.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Ryan Fox is bringing the Claret Jug to Melbourne for the Australian Open. (PHOTO: Getty Images).<\/p>\n
Fox has been a regular visitor to Australia for over a decade – his first professional win was the WA Open in 2014 – but this year\u2019s trip will come with an enhanced spotlight, extra activities and the likely placement in a marquee group across the opening rounds at Kingston Heath.<\/p>\n
However, that\u2019s a place Fox feels comfortable now, after the initial head spin and whirlwind of becoming a major champion demanded a mental reset and plenty of adapting to his new world.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’ll be a bit different. I certainly will enjoy it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’ll definitely be in one of the good groups this year; but that’s fun. I feel a bit more used to it now than I would have previously.<\/p>\n
\u201cI actually enjoyed playing with Rory for three days at Wentworth [in the BMW PGA Championship] and everything that comes with it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’ve always enjoyed playing with Rory, but was a little bit intimidated. I was actually excited about it this year, and enjoyed the whole experience and the circus that comes with it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe biggest thing will just be managing the time during the week to actually try to get some prep done, and be ready to play.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that’s probably one of the things that’s been hard since the Open; getting pulled everywhere during a tournament week, where I could generally fly under the radar a little bit more.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe downtime isn’t as much downtime as it used to be.<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess you kind of always figured that was going to happen if I ever won a major, and it certainly has happened that way.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’ve had to be better, and I still haven’t figured it out yet, what time management looks like during a tournament week, and all the other stuff that comes with it, so no doubt there’ll be plenty of that during the Aussie Open week.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut as long as I can get my prep in, I feel like I can be competitive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Melbourne awaits the Champion Golfer of the Year \ud83c\udfc6 Ryan Fox will tee it up at Kingston Heath Golf Club for the https:\/\/t.co\/OhutqknRQo Australian Open, December 3-6. \ud83c\udf9f\ufe0f https:\/\/t.co\/FafZYXxlvi #AusOpenGolf https:\/\/t.co\/EVSybCgG1v<\/p>\n