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It is the family that always comes first for Ryan Fox. Miles away from his home in New Zealand, the Kiwi pro has been trying to make a name for himself on the PGA Tour in the 2024 season. Fox, an already 4-time DP World Tour winner, shifted to the American League after accumulating the membership last season.

He moved countries and so did his family. They are the source of his motivation and the reason he stays head-focused. One key member of his family and his biggest supporter is his wife. Meet the love of Fox’s life, Anneke Ryff!

The intriguing story of Anneke Ryff’s birth

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It was not just a historic day for New Zealand but also for the Ryff family. On a hectic night when all the rugby fans were glued to the TV, Mike and Robyn Ryff were in the hospital waiting for the child. Anneke Ryff’s mother was in long labor and a few hours after the All Blacks from the Kiwi land lifted the Rugby World Cup trophy, Anneke was welcomed into the world.

On June 20, 1987, at 9:47 p.m. (New Zealand Times), Anneke started her life and it was the start of All Blacks winning in the World Cup. From that day to now, Anneke Ryff has been an avid rugby fan. Her late father found the connection between Ryff and rugby by saying, “Strangely, she’s been a rugby fanatic ever since, without a doubt. I think it was born into her.” 

On the other hand, her mother, Robyn Ryff, revealed that Fox hung on her until the cup was lifted and declared that it was “fate” that Anneke was connected to rugby from the second she was born. Since she could not witness the great victory of the Kiwis in 1987, Fox made it a point to attend the 2011 edition, and then, too, the All Blacks won.

 

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Interestingly, she has been a great luck for New Zealand’s national team, as they have away won Ryff there. Regardless, this was only the start of one connection with rugby. Years after her birth, Anneke Ryff was surprised to find another weird relationship that would be the biggest in her life.

How did Anneke Ryff and Ryan Fox meet?

Coincidence has surrounded Anneke Fox throughout her life. It was all meant to be that she would always start the momentous thing in her life with rugby by her side. It also connected her to her then-boyfriend, Ryan Fox. Just how? Coincidentally, the 1987 All Blacks team had Fox’s father, Grant Fox, as a member.

While the two were in college and Anneke Ryff was preparing to become a physiotherapist, the two met at the party. Ryff recalled how everyone was talking about Fox coming to the party. She said, “It’s funny before we met, we heard a son of a famous All Black was at the same event.”

She later revealed to The New Zealand Herald that her friends wanted the two to meet, which they did, but Ryff clarified it was not the reason why she decided to stay with the pro. From his amateur days to now, the two have stuck together. Ryff later left her profession to be with Fox on the DP World Tour and now on the PGA Tour.

She has been together with Fox for nearly two decades. Ryff was there at all times when he won on the DP World Tour, the most recent being at the BMW PGA Championship. Through all the thick and thin, the couple was together but when were they hitched?

When did Anneke Ryff get married? 

Anneke Ryff and Ryan Fox were together for a decade before they were married. Ryff said yes to the Kiwi pro’s proposal and they got married at the luxurious Rakino Island on March 9th, 2019. This was right after Fox’s victory at the ISPS Handa World Super 6 in Perth. More than a year after their wedding, Anneke Fox became pregnant with their first child.

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A post shared by Ryan Fox (@ryanfoxgolfer)

On December 18th, 2020, Fox and his wife received an early Christmas present: their first daughter, Isabol Marion Fox. After becoming a parent, Fox was more focused on bringing up Isabol while also supporting her husband’s career. The two welcomed another child, Margot Fox, in May 2023.

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Fox made his debut at the Masters that year but missed taking his family with him. He returns after recovering from pneumonia. A year later, the family of four relished finding Fox qualified for the 2024 Masters again. Anneke Fox shared her excitement about participating in the Family Par-3 content at the 88th Masters and revealed she hoped he would qualify.

Indeed, it was a memorable day for the Fox family. Fox now awaits his maiden PGA Tour victory in 2024. With his wife’s support, he might be winning it sooner than expected!