Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox is taking advantage of the UK's quarantine exemption for New Zealanders, as he returns to Europe for the tour restart.
For the first time in his career, he'll take part in the tour with no pressure on his immediate future, as the intervention of COVID-19 has already secured his 2021 European Tour card.
Since returning to New Zealand in March, Fox has been able to enjoy the smaller things in life during lockdown, like playing with his dog and fishing - but now it's back to business.
"As soon as we heard the NZ quarantine exemption, I pulled the trigger and booked a flight, and will probably be over there for three months." Fox tells Newshub.
Fox will head over to the UK next week, before a busy schedule that will see him play six events in seven weeks, including a Major championship.
Getting to the UK is one thing, but Fox still faces a logistical challenge to get to the USA.
"I've got a start in the US open in September, so there's a bit of trying to figure out how to get there."
The COVID-19 disruption has given players like Fox an exemption to play in next year's European Tour, allowing him to play with more freedom and less expectation.
"I think it's sometimes hard to get that mentality, if you have external pressure like trying to keep a card and stuff like that," he admits.
The 33-year-old is hoping to use such circumstances to his advantage, as he searches for an eighth career victory.
"I'd love to get another win, a couple of decent results," Fox says. "It'll be nice going over there, not focusing on trying to keep a card, not focusing on anything else."
Next year looms as a big one for the Kiwi golfer, as he looks to improve on his overall ranking of 140th.
"The big reason I'm going over is to get world rankings points to try to push my way up there, and to solidify the Olympics and stuff for next year."
