Meet Ryan Fox’s Caddie Dean Smith: His Personal Life, Career & Other Details Explored

Can a golfer win without his caddie? If you ask any professional, they might say no. As much as the golfer requires honing their skills, a caddie’s precision perfects it further. And that’s just how Ryan Fox and his caddie, Dean Smith, fit together.

Although Fox has been a professional for more than a decade and has partnered with various loopers, his relationship with Smith is different. After all, his winning streak started after hiring the veteran bag man. So, who exactly is Deam Smith?

Dean Smith’s personal life and early career

Dean Smith’s life starts in the legendary golfer Gary Player’s country, South Africa. The early part of Smith’s life has not been disclosed. But he is indeed a family man. The South African caddie got married in September 2018 to Justine Lindsay Smith, a Mauritius native.

Over the last six years, the couple has gone on many vacations in South Africa, played a few rounds of golf, and enjoyed life to the fullest. In this period, the duo also welcomed two children. Their eldest daughter, Kylie Lindsay Smith, was born in 2019, while their youngest son, Matthew Smith, turned one in February 2023.

Apart from spending time with his family, Smith also loves to make drinks like root beer. Other than this, obviously, his passion lies in golf. As evident, Smith became a looper for the same reason. The South African caddie started his bagman career exactly 12 years ago on the PGA Tour, as per Tour Experience. His early partnerships were with players like Oliver Wilson, Beyond Hun An, Shubhankar Sharma, and Gavin Green.

When did Smith join Ryan Fox’s team? At the start of the 2022 season, the Kiwi pro parted ways with his then-caddie, Chris Selfridge, from Northern Ireland. While it can’t be said precisely, Smith has been with Fox since the start of February 2022; the same season, the pro started winning again. This leads to the question of just how many times Smith has led Ryan Fox to a victory.

Dean Smith’s victories with Ryan Fox

The European pro’s first-ever career win on the DP World Tour was at the 2019 ISPS Handa World Super 6 in Perth. But then he was with Selfridge. However, a good three years later, Fox won again on the European Tour at the Ras Al Khaimah Classic, this time with Dean Smith. It can be said that Smith proved to be a lucky charm for Fox, as the two were perfect together from then on.

After emerging triumphant with Fox in the United Arab Emirates, Smith guided the Kiwi pro to become the first-ever golfer from New Zealand to win the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in 2022. This was in October, the fourth and last victory of Smith and Fox nearly a year later.

In 2023, Fox made his Masters debut, although he couldn’t be content with it. For a chance at the 2024 Masters, Fox needed a win at the Rolex Series of the DP World Tour. With the help of Smith, Fox could do just that! He won the 2023 BMW PGA Championship and slated himself to be present at Augusta National in 2024. The two shared an emotional hug right after the final putt. The excitement of the pair could be seen when, during the trophy presentation, Fox gleefully whispered to Smith, “We get to go back to Augusta next year.” To which the bag man excitedly replied, “Go and win it.” 

Unfortunately, Smith could not lead Fox to a victory at Augusta National, but he was at least T38 in his second Masters outing. But the victory at the BMW PGA Championship secured Fox the PGA Tour card for the 2024 season. With how successful their partnership has been on the course, the two share an even better relationship when not competing.

Dean Smith and Fox’s fun relationship

Apart from golf, Dean Smith and his employer share a similar interest in rugby. Fox always had his legendary rugby player and father Grant Fox as inspiration, so when it came to the 2023 World Cup, Smith and Fox’s coach Jamie Gough made a bet. Fox’s bet was on his father’s team, New Zealand’s All Blacks.

Smith and Gough put their bet on South Africa’s Springboks. Had the South Africans lost in the final, Smith would have had to swap the cover for his yardage book with an all-black-themed one. However, fortunately for Smith, the Springboks lifted the trophy, and Fox had to wear the South African rugby jersey for three holes at the Ned Banks Golf Challenge’s Pro-Am.

Fox relayed that it felt like he was attempting “blasphemy” by wearing a different jersey, but a bet was a bet, and he had to endure it. The two now try their luck at the PGA Tour and attempt to win similar to how they did on the DP World Tour!