Ryan Fox described his victory at The Open as a "dream come true" after conquering his nerves to secure a thrilling win at Royal Birkdale. The 39‑year‑old New Zealander delivered a clutch performance in the final round, overtaking clubhouse leader Cameron Young and edging him by a single stroke.
Fox had already signalled his intent on Saturday with a spectacular 62, putting himself firmly in contention for his first major title. Yet the pressure seemed to mount on Sunday when he recorded his second bogey of the day at the 11th hole, threatening to derail his momentum. A pair of consecutive birdies on holes 13 and 14 revived his chances, and he managed to limit the damage at the 15th, salvaging only a bogey after an unfortunate lie in a greenside bunker.
He then responded with a brilliant approach that set up a birdie on the 16th. Although he missed a birdie opportunity on the 17th, he recovered magnificently on the 18th, delivering two superb shots and then calmly sinking a 12‑foot putt to clinch the Claret Jug. "When I stepped up to the tee on the last hole, I told my caddie Dean Smith, 'We're going to try to win this,'" Fox recalled.
"I hit two perfect shots. I’m not sure how I managed the putt – my hands were all over the place. I was just trying to get the ball toward the hole somehow. It was surreal when it dropped." He explained his putting mindset: "All day I focused on taking a deep breath before each putt and simply trying to hit a line.
I don’t know how I kept the putter face square enough for it to stay on line, but I’ll take it." The win earned him the informal title of Champion Golfer of the Year, a label he said sounded "pretty good". "You dream about this moment.
I never knew it would become reality, and now it has. Having my name etched in golf history is amazing, and it’s huge for New Zealand too." Fox became the first New Zealander to capture The Open since Bob Charles in 1963.
He comes from a distinguished sporting lineage: his father is former All Blacks fly‑half Grant Fox, and his grandfather was New Zealand Test cricket captain Merv Wallace. "We have a great family history," he said. "I was lucky to carve my own path.
I don’t know if this tops their achievements, but it’s certainly up there." Speaking to his children after the victory, Fox laughed, "They told me to bring back a trophy. This is a pretty cool one to bring home for them." He also imagined his father's reaction, noting that his dad is a control‑oriented person who might have been a "nervous wreck" if things got out of hand, but would have been proud seeing his son stay composed under pressure. Sky Sports Golf analysts Dame Laura Davies and Andrew Coltart showered Fox with praise, highlighting his aggressive mindset on the back nine. Davies remarked, "He was the most impressive player all day.
He stayed aggressive; he wasn’t scared of losing it. When a shot didn’t work, he kept attacking, and I firmly believe that’s why he succeeded. He used irons when needed, but whenever a birdie chance appeared, he pulled out the driver with full commitment.
The way he played the 18th was flawless – two of the best shots of his life just to give himself a chance." Coltart added, "I’ve never seen anyone push through the tape as hard as he did at the end of a major. At a venue like this, it was superb.
The 62 on Saturday cemented his belief in his ability. While others struggled with the pressure, he stood tall." Looking ahead, Fox’s next challenge will be the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Minnesota, which kicks off Thursday. Early coverage will be on Sky Sports+, moving to Sky Sports Golf later in the evening. The 3M Open is part of a triple‑header of live golf on Sky Sports, alongside the ISPS Handa Senior Open and the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open.
The women's major season will conclude with the AIG Women’s Open from July 30 to August 2, also broadcast on Sky Sports Golf. For fans eager to experience the sport firsthand, Sky Sports offers subscription options with no contract, and there are opportunities to book tee times at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland.
The excitement generated by Fox’s triumph underscores the global appeal of golf and the enduring allure of major championships, where a single putt can turn a career into legend.