Southport, England – Ryan Fox hit the three most clutch shots of his life on the 72nd hole of The Open to claim the Claret Jug, and the title of Champion Golfer of the Year. The New Zealander created another iconic moment in the rich history of The Open, one that will be held in the highest regard for decades to come.
Fox teed off on 18 tied for the lead at nine-under-par, before he drained the 12-foot birdie on the 18th in walk-off style to capture the final major of 2026, thwarting the hopes of Cameron Young – who just moments earlier, seemed sure to be in a playoff (in the worst case scenario).
Royal Birkdale’s 18th hole had played at 161-over-par for the championship, the toughest on the course. But Fox had other plans, playing aggressively – he piped his tee shot down the middle of the fairway and then nailedd his approach shot 12 feet short of the hole.
He rolled it firm and true, right into the center of the cup. “It’s unbelievable, to be honest” he said. “My nerves were all over the place, I’m not sure how I hit that putt on 18. It’s a dream come true. It’s the first time I’ve seen this trophy up close; it’s pretty amazing.”
Fox fired a third-round 62 on Saturday, becoming the third player of the week to equal the lowest round in a major and jumping up the leaderboard into the final group. Sam Burns held the 54-hole lead by two. Si Woo Kim, Scottie Scheffler and Tommy Fleetwood all either led or got within a shot, while Young, 13 groups ahead, was on fire out on the course.
Fox, was grinding early on with less than his best stuff. struggled. On the 12th tee box, he was one-over for his round and seven-under overall, still just two shots back but hardly thought of as a player about to take the title. Th elast third of the round, Fox flipped the script.
A 12-foot birdie on 13 was the start of the run home. Another birdie on the par-5 14th saw him pull even with Young at -9. The bogey on 15 appeared to be a momentum killer. The he poured in a 10-foot birdie on 16 after a dialed approach from the left rough again boosted him to a tie for the lead. Par on 17, left one more chance… and by now you know how 18 went.
From a tie for 52nd place on Friday to holding the Claret Jug on Sunday evening, Fox’s win marks the largest 36-hole comeback in major championship history by (from a position perspective).
A record attendance of 306,000 have attended The 154th Open – next year The Open returns to the Old Course at St.Andrews.
