The Chasing the Fox golf event, held annually at Royal Auckland and Grange Golf Club, has grown steadily in prominence since its inception in 2022. The tournament, which pits teams of invited celebrities and professional golfers against New Zealand’s top player Ryan Fox over six holes, has become a hallmark year-end celebration of Kiwi golf.

The event’s future was uncertain after its debut, but a pivotal moment―a hole-in-one by former New Zealand Prime Minister Sir John Key on the par-three fifth hole―helped to propel the competition into the national spotlight. Fox, who played alongside promoter Nick Randell in organizing the event, credited this viral moment as key to securing a second edition and fueling its growth.

"The only thing that really got us into year two was John Key’s hole-in-one," Fox said, reflecting on the first tournament’s success. The viral clip attracted attention beyond initial expectations and helped create momentum for subsequent years. Since then, Chasing the Fox has expanded both in scale and viewership, now featuring more professional players and drawing thousands of spectators.

Initially envisioned as a Ryder Cup-style contest featuring New Zealand’s top male and female golfers, the event’s format evolved after the organizers were unable to secure Dame Lydia Ko’s participation. Instead, the event focused on a series of teams—including representatives from sports teams and political figures—attempting to outperform Fox. Despite this change, the tournament maintained its charitable focus, raising funds for various causes.

Fox, ranked 23rd in the world as of 2026, has recently seen his profile rise following a breakthrough year highlighted by winning the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in July and securing a top-30 finish on the PGA Tour. This success has added prestige to the event, which now features Fox paired with fellow New Zealand professional Daniel Hillier. The pair are set to defend their title in this year’s ambrose-format competition, which challenges teams of three players.

Randell, who runs the promotions company Podis and helped develop the event, noted the strong appeal of Fox’s involvement. "There’s no other athlete that you could call and he’s genuinely so generous with his time," Randell said. "He did it for nothing. His profile has grown, and the world has gotten to see what an amazing person he is."

As the event transitions into its fifth year, Chasing the Fox continues to serve both as a showcase for New Zealand’s golfing talent and a unique sports entertainment offering. With further professional players yet to be announced for this year’s competition, the event promises to maintain its upward trajectory in both scale and popularity.