Fox’s decisive final round

By George Aldridge — 19 July 2026 — 4 min read

Fox’s decisive final round

Ryan Fox, a 39-year-old from New Zealand, secured his first major title at The 154th Open Championship held at Royal Birkdale. He concluded the tournament at 10-under-par, finishing one stroke ahead of American Cameron Young. Fox’s victory was sealed with a birdie on the 18th hole, marking a dramatic end to the competition.

During the final round, Fox demonstrated composure in challenging conditions. He shot a two-under 68, which included four birdies in his final six holes. His performance on the 18th hole was particularly notable; he used a driver for a 330-yard tee-shot and followed it with an approach shot, landing it on the green. He then converted an 11-foot putt to clinch the Claret Jug.

Fox’s journey to victory included a significant comeback after an opening round of 72, which placed him behind the leader and in joint 85th place. A second-round 68 moved him to tied 52nd, and he then propelled himself into contention with an eight-under 62 on Saturday. This score tied the record for the lowest round in a men’s major tournament. Fox’s comeback from his position after 36 holes is noted as the largest in major history.

Competitors’ performances

Cameron Young, who finished in second place, had completed his final round more than two hours before Fox. Young posted a six-under 64 on Sunday, setting a target of nine under par. Despite his strong performance, a bogey on the 18th hole ultimately impacted his chances of securing the title. Young’s round included a drive into a fairway bunker, hitting the lip with his second shot, and finding the greenside sand with his third, before almost chipping in for par.

Sam Burns, who was the leader after 54 holes, finished in third place at eight-under-par. At one point, Burns reached 11 under par within two holes but later regressed. Scottie Scheffler, the world number one, and local favourite Tommy Fleetwood shared fourth place at seven-under-par. Scheffler’s second round, which included 32 putts, was cited as a factor that harmed his overall performance. Fleetwood, who had strong local support, made a birdie on the 18th hole, moving him into a tie for fourth.

Si Woo Kim of South Korea also held the lead at one point after holing from off the green at the 6th hole. He remained in contention until a challenging closing stretch. Kim shared sixth place with Casey Jarvis and Lucas Herbert. Other notable players included Bryson DeChambeau, who had a triple-bogey seven on the 11th hole, and Rory McIlroy, who finished with a 71 for a one-under total.

Family legacy and future outlook

Ryan Fox’s victory adds to a rich sporting legacy within his family. He is the son of Grant Fox, a former All Black rugby legend who helped win the 1987 World Cup and was once the team’s record points scorer. His grandfather, Merv Wallace, captained and coached the New Zealand cricket team. Fox acknowledged the family’s sporting history, stating that there was no pressure on him to follow in their footsteps.

Fox is the second player from New Zealand to win the Claret Jug, following Bob Charles’ success in 1963. His win marks a significant achievement for a player who did not start playing professionally until he was 24 years old. Fox, who was a 100-1 outsider at the start of the tournament, is also the lowest-ranked Open champion since Darren Clarke in 2011.

For Cameron Young, the second-place finish continues a trend of strong performances in majors. He expressed that he felt he had a chance to win even without his best golf. Tommy Fleetwood, despite not winning his home Open, received a warm reception from the crowd on the 18th fairway, acknowledging their support. He stated that he would remember the experience for a long time.

Scottie Scheffler reflected on his performance, noting that it “just wasn’t my week” despite his consistent results. Rory McIlroy, the Masters champion, will now take a holiday before returning to competitive action in the PGA Tour’s playoffs.

Source: bbc.com