The putt from 11 feet on the 18th green at Royal Birkdale was the biggest of Ryan Fox's life, and when it dropped, the 39-year-old New Zealander had secured his first major title and a place in golf history. His birdie at the final hole of the 154th Open Championship capped a day of high drama, as four different players held or shared the lead on a sun-baked Sunday afternoon. Fox, a 100-1 outsider at the start of the tournament, finished at 10 under par, one shot ahead of American Cameron Young. The victory was a triumph of nerve and instinct, as Fox chose to attack the long par-four 18th rather than play safe for a play-off. 'I was going to try to win the tournament, and I'd live with the consequences if I stuffed it up,' he said afterwards.
The Open Championship is golf's oldest major tournament, first played in 1860 at Prestwick in Scotland. It is organised by the R&A and is one of the four men's major championships, alongside the Masters, the US Open and the PGA Championship. The tournament rotates around a selection of links courses in the United Kingdom, with Royal Birkdale on the Lancashire coast hosting this year's edition. The winner receives the famous Claret Jug, a silver trophy first awarded in 1873. The Open is the only major played outside the United States, and its history, tradition and challenging coastal courses give it a unique status in the sport.
“Ryan Fox's dramatic Open win highlights the prestige of golf's oldest major – explained.”
For UK readers, The Open is a highlight of the sporting summer, offering the chance to see the world's best golfers test themselves on classic British links courses. This year, English hopes rested on Tommy Fleetwood, who played the opening two rounds on his home course at Royal Birkdale. Fleetwood ultimately finished tied for seventh at 7 under par, but he remained upbeat about his week. 'It's been special,' he said. The tournament also featured a strong British contingent, including Tyrrell Hatton, Matt Wallace, Robert MacIntyre and Shane Lowry. The presence of Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, who finished at 1 under par, and world number one Scottie Scheffler added to the draw.
Q: What is The Open Championship? The Open Championship, often called The Open or the British Open, is the oldest of golf's four major championships. It has been held annually since 1860, except during the two world wars. The tournament is played on a rotating selection of links courses in the UK and is known for its unpredictable weather, firm fast fairways and deep pot bunkers. The winner receives the Claret Jug, one of the most recognisable trophies in sport.
Q: Who is Ryan Fox? Ryan Fox is a New Zealand professional golfer, born in 1987. He is the son of Grant Fox, a former All Blacks rugby union star who won the 1987 Rugby World Cup and was New Zealand's record points scorer at the time. His grandfather, Merv Wallace, captained and coached the New Zealand cricket team. Ryan Fox had won several tournaments on the European Tour before his Open victory, but this was his first major title. He is known for playing at a fast pace, taking just 22 seconds from Cameron Young's final putt to stepping up for his own winning putt.
Q: How did the final day of the 2026 Open unfold? The final round was a tightly contested battle. Overnight leader Sam Burns of the United States, South Korea's Si Woo Kim, world number one Scottie Scheffler and English favourite Tommy Fleetwood all held or shared the lead at various points. Fox started the day one shot behind but played steady golf, shooting a two-under 68. The decisive moment came when Fox birdied the 18th hole, a long par-four that had yielded only four birdies all day. He hit a 330-yard drive and a superb approach to 11 feet, then holed the putt to finish one ahead of Cameron Young, who had posted 9 under par earlier.
What happens next? The Open will return in 2027 to a venue yet to be announced by the R&A. The 155th Open is scheduled for July 2027. For Fox, the win transforms his career, securing him a five-year exemption into all four majors and a lifetime invitation to The Open. He also becomes the second New Zealander to win the Claret Jug, after Sir Bob Charles in 1963. The victory adds another chapter to the remarkable sporting pedigree of his family, which includes a Rugby World Cup winner and an international cricket captain.