A Kiwi winning the Australian Open with a South African caddie sounds like a nightmare to Aussie sport fans, but to New Zealand golfer Ryan Fox it would represent a dream come true.
The son of All Blacks great Grant Fox cruised into contention at Royal Sydney with his pair of 68s - enough to finish a shot behind shock halfway leader James Nitties, of Newcastle.
The 29-year-old Auckland native claims the 101st Australian Open feels "like a holiday", especially after locking up a full European Tour card courtesy of a fourth-place finish on the secondary Challenge Tour's Order of Merit.
Ask what it would mean to be the first New Zealander to etch his name on the Stonehaven Cup, Fox made light of the Australian Test cricket team's capitulation to South Africa and the Wallabies' poor record against the All Blacks.
"I can think of a couple smart arse answers to this," joked Fox.
"I guess you guys are our biggest rivals in pretty much any sport. It would certainly be nice to have a Kiwi name on the Stonehaven Cup. There have been a lot of great names on it and if I could add my name it'd be fantastic."
Fox - who won the Northern Ireland Open on the Challenge Tour this year - has Dean Smith carrying his clubs this week.
He believes the knowledge the South African gained while caddying for An Byeong-hun's 2015 European Tour's BMW PGA Championship victory will be vital come Sunday.
"He's been on the bag for the past year and we work really well together," said Fox."
"It's his first time down here and he won with An Byeong-hun around Wentworth last year so he's lot some experience in the lead and I'm sure that'll help over the weekend."
It's a change from the usual caddie services of his father, but Fox feels if he can win the Australian Open - a feat not even New Zealand golfing greats Sir Bob Charles and Michael Campbell achieved - he'll make his own name in world sport.
"I grew up with Dad being an All Black and I'm certainly proud of that. Hopefully I can forge a name for myself as well."
