Another 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.
Ryan Fox Deserves His Moment
Massive congratulations to Ryan Fox - the 2026 Champion Golfer of the Year.
Birkdale, 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.
The 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 – especially under those circumstances.
Bryson, as usual, did his best to try and steal the headlines. From 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.
A 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. I 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.
That's also a wrap for the 2026 men's majors – only eight months until The Masters...
Discovering Sotogrande
I 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.
Sotogrande was the venue this time, an impressive place for more reasons than one.
Firstly, we played two great golf courses: The Alto, which is on-site at the hotel, and La Reserva. Both are impressive layouts, with plenty of elevation changes, water hazards and fantastic views. I did find it strange playing golf on a course that was so green at this time of year, but the different grass varieties and impressive irrigation systems keep everything looking lush despite the hotter climate.
The resort has also recently upgraded its academy in conjunction with Suzann Pettersen, who has owned a property there and used it as a base for a number of years. It's always nice seeing greats of the game giving something back and using their platform to encourage golfers of all abilities, from youngsters just taking up the game to elite amateurs and aspiring professionals.
Alongside the academy is a new full-length par-three course. By full-sized, I mean it's not a pitch-and-putt. They allowed us to go out and play it, even though it doesn't officially open until later this year, and it's going to be a great addition.
As a resort, Sotogrande has so much more than just golf. It's also a great destination for couples and families, with plenty of activities and things to keep everyone busy. You can find out more in this feature on the hotel, the golf and the resort. And keep an eye out for full golf course reviews very soon.
Now it's that time of year for me to take a break from golf as I head off on holiday, leaving the clubs at home. That also means there will be a break in the weekly column for a couple of weeks. To be honest, I could take my laptop and write something to keep you all happy, but I wouldn't have watched any golf and I wouldn't have played any golf, so I'm not really sure how much value I could offer!
So it's goodbye from me for a couple of weeks. I hope you're all out playing, still enjoying the weather and, of course, making a stack load of birdies.
