Ryan Fox secured his first major championship in a dramatic finish at the 154th Open, edging out Cameron Young by a single stroke after a decisive birdie on the 18th hole. Fox entered the final round in strong form, having tied the record for the lowest round in a men’s major with a 62 in the third round, and he navigated a volatile Sunday to emerge victorious from a tightly packed leaderboard.
At the start of the final day, Fox trailed leader Sam Burns by two strokes but quickly closed the gap, joining Young at the top of the leaderboard at nine under par. Young, who had started the day tied for 20th, produced a remarkable comeback, erasing a seven‑shot deficit with a front‑nine 29 and birdieing both par‑fives on the back nine. His final‑round 64 left him waiting for the clubhouse score, hoping it would hold. Fox’s decisive moment came on the par‑four 18th.
After a solid approach that landed 12 feet from the pin, he calmly sank the putt for birdie, sealing a one‑stroke victory. Burns, who had led after 54 holes, faltered with a final‑round 72 and finished two strokes behind in third place. Home favorite Tommy Fleetwood posted a 68 to share fourth place with world number one Scottie Scheffler, who also finished one shot back.
The tournament featured a historic concentration of first‑time major contenders: nine of the top ten players at the start of the day were seeking their inaugural major title. Among them, Si Woo Kim briefly surged to 10 under after a front‑nine 32, but a late‑round slump of four bogeys dropped him to a final‑round 70 and a share of sixth place.
Lucas Herbert and Casey Jarvis also featured in the upper‑midfield, while Bryson DeChambeau ended tied‑14th, six strokes behind the winner. Rory McIlroy, who struggled throughout the week, finished nine strokes back with a one‑over 71.
Fox’s round was a mixture of highs and lows. He opened with a birdie from 15 feet on the second hole, matching Burns’ early surge, but bogeyed the ninth and 11th holes, slipping into over‑par territory. He rebounded with back‑to‑back birdies on the 13th and 14th to rejoin Young at nine under.
Although he missed a par save from the bunker on the 15th, he promptly holed a 10‑foot putt to regain the lead. A missed opportunity on the par‑five 17th left the outcome undecided until the final hole, where his birdie sparked jubilant celebrations on the green. In post‑round interviews, Fox described the experience as "unbelievable" and "a dream come true." He admitted his nerves were "all over the place" as he faced the 18th putt, noting that he only realized the ball was on a viable line when it began to track toward the left edge of the green.
"Everything was shaking," he said, "I wasn’t sure how I hit it straight, but when I saw it heading that way I thought, ‘This has a chance!’" He added that the putt felt much easier on a practice green than under tournament pressure. Sky Sports commentator Dame Laura Davies praised Fox’s aggressive mindset, saying, "He stayed aggressive, never scared of losing it. When a birdie chance presented itself, he committed fully, even pulling the driver out for a shot that could have won the tournament.
The way he played the 18th was flawless – two of the best shots of his career to give himself a chance and he delivered." Fellow analyst Andrew Coltart highlighted Fox’s resilience, noting that the 62 in the third round "cemented his belief" and that he "stood tall while others struggled with the pressure." The victory places Fox alongside New Zealand legends Bob Charles and Michael Campbell as the only male New Zealanders to have won a major championship. His triumph also marks a significant moment for the Open, showcasing the depth of talent in the current generation of golfers. Looking ahead, Fox’s next challenge will be the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Minnesota, which kicks off on Thursday. Early coverage will be available on Sky Sports+ before moving to Sky Sports Golf in the evening.
The 3M Open is part of a triple‑header of live golf events on Sky Sports, which also includes 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 golf enthusiasts seeking to play the sport themselves, Sky Sports offers a booking service with access to over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland. Users can enter a course name, city, or postal code to find available tee times, though the current search returned no results, suggesting a need to try alternative locations.
Overall, Ryan Fox’s victory at The Open stands as a testament to perseverance, strategic aggression, and the ability to perform under extreme pressure, cementing his place in golf history and inspiring future generations of New Zealand golfers.