Ryan Fox frustrated by New Zealand’s MIQ system as he eyes another return home – Stuff.co.nz

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Ryan Fox is back on the DP World Tour but is eyeing another return to New Zealand.

Ryan Fox admits life and sport during the Covid-19 pandemic have been brutal.

But the leading New Zealand mens golfer acknowledged others have had it far worse as he plays a string of tournaments in the Middle East on the DP World Tour before another scheduled stint in MIQ back home.

Fox finished 61st in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Sunday and told The Guardian during the event that he and his family wife Anneke and 13-month-old daughter Isabel have struggled with New Zealands MIQ system.

DP WORLD TOUR/TWITTER

Spain's Santiago Tarrio produced a spectacular escape from a tricky bunker lie.

Im in a good place, I know Ive got a job, Fox said.

READ MORE:* Kiwi golfer Lydia Ko opens 2022 LPGA season with top-10- finish in Orlando* Steven Alker loses out to Miguel Angel Jimnez in playoff in PGA Tour Champions* Watch: Golfer's spectacular overhead escape at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

There are some Kiwis overseas that are not as well-placed as me, that dont have a job. It was frustrating enough at the start and its probably got worse. Our system has got harder and harder. We finally, just before Christmas, had some help. I think we get 22 spots a month as individual athletes trying to get into the country.

The 205th-ranked mens golfer in world standings said he had to miss a couple of tournaments in Europe late last year to ensure he could get back to New Zealand.

I spent the whole back end of last year, me and my wife, trying to get in this lottery system to get a space to go home for Christmas. I missed a couple of events at the end of the year because that was the only time we could get home. Hopefully, when we go back this will be the last time that I do it. Its been an incredibly frustrating 18 months. I find it really, really hard in quarantine by myself.

Fox has a flat in London, but said the family was desperate to get home at the end of 2021.

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Ryan Fox says travelling back to New Zealand has been frustrating.

It was really tough on my wife last year having four months, where she was with a baby 24 hours a day. I was out playing golf. She travelled to some events but just not being able to have any support was pretty tough, he told The Guardian.

The 35-year-old said people had understood his predicament, despite concerns from New Zealanders about keeping borders open.

Back home a lot of people think they should just shut the borders.

Ive personally not caught flak for travelling but theres an undercurrent of: Why are people travelling in the middle of the pandemic? Well, its very results driven. If I dont play or I dont play well, I dont have a job and I cant support my family. I feel like I dont have a choice.

Fox, who will next tee it up in the Dubai Desert Classic later this week, said people missing dying relatives and funerals deserved far greater sympathy than him.

Theres a lot of people who have a lot tougher stories than what I have.

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