SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND – Ryan Fox delivered the biggest moment of his career Sunday, winning the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale with a birdie on the final hole to claim his first major championship.
The 39-year-old from New Zealand rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to finish at 10 under par, one stroke ahead of American Cameron Young. The victory made Fox just the third golfer from New Zealand to win a men’s major championship and earned him the $3.2 million winner’s prize.
Fox entered the weekend several shots off the lead before vaulting into contention with a record-tying 8-under 62 during Saturday’s third round. He carried that momentum into Sunday despite a brief stumble on the back nine.
After a bogey on the 15th hole dropped him out of the lead, Fox responded with four birdies over his final six holes, capped by the tournament-winning putt on the 18th that eliminated the need for a playoff.
Young nearly forced extra holes after firing a brilliant 6-under 64 in the final round.
The American surged into the clubhouse lead with a front-nine 29 and sat atop the leaderboard for nearly two hours while the final groups finished. However, his hopes took a hit on the 18th hole when his recovery shot from a pot bunker struck the bunker wall, leading to a costly bogey that left him one shot short at 9 under.
Sam Burns, who entered the day with a two-shot lead, couldn’t hold off the field. Three consecutive bogeys on the front nine derailed his round, and he failed to make a birdie over his final 12 holes while closing with a 2-over 72 to finish third at 8 under.
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler remained in contention throughout the afternoon. He carded a final-round 67 and briefly climbed the leaderboard with a birdie on the 17th, but a bogey on the closing hole ended his bid to repeat as Champion Golfer of the Year, leaving him tied for fourth at 7 under with England’s Tommy Fleetwood.
Fleetwood thrilled the home crowd by finishing with back-to-back birdies. His closing round also marked his seventh consecutive Open Championship round in the 60s, tying a tournament record previously set by Ernie Els.
Bryson DeChambeau’s chances disappeared after a difficult weekend. A two-stroke penalty assessed Friday for improving his swing path, combined with a triple bogey on the 11th hole during the final round, dropped him into a tie for 14th.
Fox’s victory capped one of the tournament’s most memorable finishes, as his late charge and clutch birdie on the final green secured a breakthrough major championship and etched his name into New Zealand golf history.