Ryan Fox and his long and amazing road to British Open champion - TSN
Ryan Fox has claimed the British Open title, marking a significant achievement in his career. His victory came after a 12-foot birdie putt on the final hole at Royal Birkdale, securing a one-shot win. This win makes Fox the first New Zealander to win the Open since Bob Charles in 1963.
Fox, the son of All Blacks rugby player Grant Fox, did not begin playing golf competitively until he was 17. Before this tournament, he had not finished better than a tie for 16th in 28 major championships. His journey to becoming a major champion has been described as a slow and steady rise, with him becoming a European Tour rookie at age 30 and a PGA Tour rookie at age 37, eventually winning a major at age 39. This makes him the oldest first-time major champion since Henrik Stenson in 2016.
Reflecting on his victory, Fox expressed that he wasn’t sure if he ever thought winning a major was possible, but he is now a champion. He also mentioned that he had no sensation in his hands as he hit the winning putt, describing the experience as surreal. Despite the pressure, he focused on taking a deep breath and trying to hit his line, which ultimately paid off.
A dramatic final round
The final round of the British Open saw a record crowd and kept spectators guessing until the very end. Fox was among four players who held at least a share of the lead at various points, with Scottie Scheffler and Tommy Fleetwood also in contention. The field gradually narrowed, with Cameron Young emerging as the primary competitor.
Young had completed his round with a 64, which was the best score of the day, and for a significant period, it appeared that his score might hold up for the win. He had to scramble for a bogey on the 18th hole after hitting into a pot bunker, nearly holing out from another bunker for par.
Fox, however, showed considerable resilience in the closing holes. He made birdie on four of his last six holes, including a crucial birdie on the 16th that allowed him to catch Young. A key moment came on the par-3 15th, where his tee shot landed near the lip of a bunker. Despite the difficult lie, he managed to blast out and then pitch to six feet, making the bogey putt, which he felt was a better outcome than he might have expected.
Going into the 18th hole, which is known for its difficulty with only four of 76 players having birdied it at that point, Fox was tied for the lead. A par would have led to a three-hole playoff, while a bogey would have given the title to Young. Fox, however, decided to play aggressively, telling his caddie, Dean Smith, that they were going to try to win the tournament.
His decision paid off, as he hit two perfect shots on the 18th, culminating in the 12-foot birdie putt that secured his victory. The putt went in, leading to a moment of joy and disbelief for Fox. This victory capped off what some have called an unexpected major season in golf, with Fox’s win being described as remarkable, especially considering he trailed Young by two strokes with six holes remaining and still managed to win by one despite a bogey in that stretch.
Career trajectory and recent form
Fox’s path to becoming a major champion has been a gradual one. He had three wins on the PGA Tour of Australasia and three more on the European Tour, including the BMW PGA Championship. Last year, he also secured two wins on the PGA Tour, one of which was a playoff victory over Sam Burns in the Canadian Open.
His win at Royal Birkdale earned him $3.2 million. The victory also highlights a season that has seen several unexpected major winners. Fox’s journey from not playing golf competitively until age 17 to becoming a major champion at 39 is a testament to his perseverance. He missed the cut in the Open of 2025, making his 2026 victory even more significant.
The 2026 major season has been characterized by unexpected winners who outplayed their opponents, rather than benefiting from others’ collapses. Fox’s win, with his final-hole birdie, solidified this trend, providing a dramatic conclusion to the tournament.
The moments leading up to his winning putt were filled with intense focus, despite his hands shaking. He managed to keep the putter face square enough for the ball to go online, securing his first major title and etching his name into golf history.
Fox’s victory is expected to be celebrated widely in New Zealand, with many having stayed up late to watch the final round. His win at the 154th Open Championship marks a significant milestone in his career.
Source: tsn.ca
