![\"Sotogrande\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/mh-sotogrande_dzo6d6.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\tAnother busy week has come and gone in the golfing world. Ryan Fox became Champion Golfer of the Year after a memorable Open at Royal Birkdale, while I swapped the links of England and Ireland for the hills of southern Spain to discover one of Europe’s most impressive golf destinations. Here’s what’s caught my eye this week before I take a short summer break.<\/p>\n
\t<\/p>\n
\tRyan Fox Deserves His Moment<\/p>\n
\tMassive congratulations to Ryan Fox – the\u00a02026 Champion Golfer of the Year<\/a>.<\/p>\n \tBirkdale, as it usually does, provided us all with a fantastic feast of golf over the past week, with lots of twists and turns and storylines from all over. But ultimately it was 39-year-old New Zealander Ryan Fox who claimed his first major title in impressive fashion with a birdie at the 72nd hole.<\/p>\n \tThe most impressive thing about the way Ryan Fox plays golf is the pace at which he does it. I have to confess, due to some family commitments this weekend, I didn’t actually get a chance to watch much of the final round, but I did see the last two holes and, in particular, the way he played the 18th. No fuss, no waiting around, no backing off. No double or triple-checking the wind. In fact, his approach shot at the 18th was hit almost as soon as the group in front had left the green. It was so refreshing to see \u2013 especially under those circumstances.<\/p>\n \tBryson, as usual, did his best to try and steal the headlines.\u00a0From my perspective, I don’t think he did what he did intentionally to try and gain an advantage, but it didn’t look good either way and I think the rules officials came to the correct decision.<\/p>\n \tA quick word on the course too. I was lucky enough to play Birkdale a couple of years ago, before the recent changes, and it’s a great layout that was presented in incredible condition.\u00a0I loved seeing it from above this week. Nothing beats a burnt-out links course playing firm and fast and seeing how the professionals choose to take it on.<\/p>\n \tThat’s also a wrap for the 2026 men’s majors \u2013 only eight months until The Masters…<\/p>\n \tDiscovering Sotogrande<\/p>\n \tI had another busy week last week, my second press trip in the space of two weeks. This time I swapped the Irish links for the Spanish hills.<\/p>\n
![\"Matt](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/mh-patterson_l2rhhp.jpg\")
<\/p>\n