Ryan Fox, a 39-year-old from New Zealand, secured his first major title at the 154th Open Championship held at Royal Birkdale. Fox finished the tournament at 10-under-par, one shot ahead of American Cameron Young, after a dramatic final round. His victory marks him as the second New Zealander to win the Claret Jug, following Bob Charles‘ win in 1963.
The final day at Royal Birkdale was marked by intense competition and shifting leads. Fox, who started the tournament as a 100-1 outsider, delivered a two-under 68 in the final round. His performance included four birdies in his last six holes, culminating in a crucial birdie on the 18th hole to clinch the championship.
Dramatic Final Round at Birkdale
The 18th hole proved decisive for Fox. With the long par-four having yielded only four birdies all day, Fox launched a 330-yard tee-shot into the fairway. He then hit an approach shot from 175 yards to the heart of the green, setting up an 11-foot putt for birdie. Despite feeling his hands shaking, Fox calmly converted the putt, securing his victory.
Fox’s win came after a remarkable comeback throughout the tournament. Following an opening-round 72, he was seven strokes behind the leader and in joint 85th place. A second-round 68 moved him to tied 52nd, and he then propelled himself into contention on Saturday with an eight-under 62. This 62 tied the record for the lowest round at a men’s major tournament and represents the largest comeback by position after 36 holes at a major in history.
His approach to the final hole exemplified his calm demeanour. Fox told his caddie he intended to take on the shot to win the tournament, willing to face the consequences if it went wrong. This bold strategy paid off, securing him the title of ‘Champion Golfer of the Year’.
Young’s Near Miss and Fleetwood’s Home Hopes
Cameron Young, who had set a target of nine-under-par, had completed his round more than two hours before Fox’s decisive putt. Young shot an impressive six-under 64 in the final round, benefiting from the earlier, more scoreable conditions. However, a bogey on the 18th hole, where he drove into a fairway bunker, ultimately proved costly, preventing him from reaching 10-under-par and potentially forcing a play-off.
Young expressed disappointment, noting that a one-over 73 on Saturday was a key factor in him falling short. He finished second, reflecting on what might have been if not for that earlier round. As Fox celebrated, Young was preparing for a potential play-off, only to hear the cheers confirming Fox’s victory.
Local favourite Tommy Fleetwood, despite strong crowd support, was unable to secure his first major title at Royal Birkdale. Starting five shots back on Sunday, Fleetwood moved within one shot of the lead at one point. However, three consecutive bogeys on the ninth, 10th, and 11th holes derailed his chances. He finished tied for fourth place alongside Scottie Scheffler, acknowledging the special, if not victorious, experience of playing in front of his home crowd.
Sam Burns, who led after 54 holes, finished third at eight-under-par. Scottie Scheffler, the world number one, also had a challenging final day. Despite a strong start, taking 32 putts in round two had significantly impacted his overall standing. He made a late charge with birdies on the 16th and 17th but a missed green on the 18th led to a dropped shot, resulting in a tie for fourth.
A Family Sporting Legacy
Fox’s victory adds another significant achievement to his family’s sporting legacy. He is the son of Grant Fox, a former All Blacks rugby legend who helped win the 1987 World Cup and was once the team’s record points scorer. His grandfather, Merv Wallace, also captained and coached the New Zealand cricket team.
Fox, who did not begin playing professionally until he was 24, has often seen his career overshadowed by his father’s achievements. He commented on the family’s strong sporting history, noting the lack of pressure on him to follow in their footsteps. His victory at Royal Birkdale is a significant personal milestone, and he humorously suggested it might relieve any future pressure on his own children.
The tournament also saw other notable performances and incidents. Kim Si-woo briefly held the lead and finished tied for sixth. Bryson DeChambeau, despite a strong position earlier, recorded a triple-bogey seven on the 11th, finishing tied for 14th. Rory McIlroy concluded his tournament with a 71, finishing one-under-par, and is now set to take a holiday before returning to competitive action in the PGA Tour playoffs.
Fox’s win at Royal Birkdale, as the world number 56, makes him the lowest-ranked Open champion since Darren Clarke in 2011.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
As NewsGB's Senior Football Correspondent, Jack Ferndale reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He covered north-east football for a regional daily. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of Sunderland and completed an NCTJ diploma. Jack lives in Sunderland, where he watches lower-league football home and away. “The story is in the squad, not just the starting eleven.”
