Ryan Fox secured his first major championship at the 154th Open after a thrilling finish that saw him sink a birdie putt on the 18th to win by a single stroke over Cameron Young. The New Zealand native entered the weekend in strong form, having equaled the record low round in a men’s major with a blistering 62 in the third round. That performance propelled him into the lead pack and set the stage for a dramatic Sunday. On the final day, Fox started two shots behind the overnight leader, Sam Burns, but quickly closed the gap.
By the time he reached the 18th tee, he was tied with Young at nine‑under‑par, the score that would ultimately decide the tournament. Young, who had rallied from a seven‑stroke deficit earlier in the day, posted a 64 and waited more than two hours to learn whether his effort would be enough.
Fox, however, answered with an approach shot that landed just twelve feet from the pin on the par‑four 18th. He then holed the putt, clinching a remarkable win and delivering a moment of pure euphoria for himself and his caddie. Burns, who had led after 54 holes, could only manage a 72 on the final day, finishing two strokes behind Fox in solo third place. English favorite Tommy Fleetwood posted a 68 to share fourth place with world number one Scottie Scheffler, who also ended the tournament a shot behind the leader.
The top ten after the first round featured nine players chasing their maiden major, but it was Young, who had entered the day tied‑20th, who surged forward after a front‑nine 29 and a pair of birdies on the back‑nine to briefly hold the clubhouse lead. Young’s bid ultimately fell short when he could not save par from a greenside bunker on the 18th, leaving his nine‑under total as the target for the rest of the field. Meanwhile, Si Woo Kim, playing in the penultimate group, briefly moved to ten‑under after a front‑nine 32, only to stumble with four bogeys over his final eight holes and finish with a 70. Fox’s round was a study in resilience.
He began with a birdie from 15 feet on the second hole, matching Burns’ early surge, but slipped into over‑par territory with bogeys on the ninth and eleventh. He recovered with back‑to‑back birdies on the 13th and 14th to re‑join Young at nine under.
A missed sand save on the 15th could have cost him, yet he rebounded with a ten‑foot birdie putt that tied the leaders again. Although he could not capitalize on the par‑five 17th, the final birdie on 18 provided the decisive edge.
The victory placed Fox in an exclusive club of New Zealand male major champions, joining Bob Charles and Michael Campbell. His emotional celebration reflected the magnitude of the achievement. "It’s unbelievable, to be honest," he said after the round.
"I still don’t know what to think. My nerves are all over the place. I’m not quite sure how I hit that putt on 18.
It’s a dream come true. Looking at this trophy now, it’s the first time I’ve seen it up close, so this is a dream come true. I was really happy.
I said to my caddie through six or eight holes: ‘I feel a lot better than I thought I would now.’" When asked about the 18th‑hole putt, Fox explained, "Everything was shaking. I’m not quite sure how I hit it straight.
As soon as I saw it tracking to the left edge, I thought, ‘This has got a chance!’ I was happy it was the right speed and I wasn’t going to make anything coming back. I don’t really know what I was thinking then.
I couldn’t believe it, really. That putt is a lot easier to hit on a practice green than it is in real life." Sky Sports analyst Dame Laura Davies praised Fox’s aggressive mindset, noting that he never seemed afraid of losing the lead. "He stayed aggressive, I don’t think he was scared of losing it.
If a shot didn’t work, he was prepared to stay aggressive and I firmly believe that’s why he did it. He hit irons when he had to, but when there was a chance—a sniff of a birdie—the driver was out, full commitment. The way he played 18, I don’t think you could have drawn that up any better.
Two of the best shots he will ever hit in his life just to hit that green and give himself a chance," Davies said. Andrew Coltart, also of Sky Sports, highlighted Fox’s mental toughness. "I’ve never seen somebody push through the tape as hard as that right at the end of the tournament to win a major championship.
At a place like this, too. It was just superb. The 62 yesterday, I think, helped cement his belief in his ability out there. Another record‑breaking score.
While they all struggled with the pressure, Fox stood tall." Other notable performances included Lucas Herbert, who matched the historic second‑round 62, and Bryson DeChambeau, who finished tied‑14th, six strokes behind the winner. Rory McIlroy, a multiple‑major winner, struggled and posted a one‑over 71, ending nine strokes off the lead.
The Open will be followed by the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Minnesota, kicking off Thursday. Early coverage will be on Sky Sports+ before moving to Sky Sports Golf in the evening. The tournament is part of a triple‑header of live golf 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 looking to play the sport themselves, Sky Sports promotes a partnership offering discounted rates and the ability to book a round at any of the 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland. Simply enter a course name, city, or postal code on the booking platform to find available tee times.
In summary, Ryan Fox’s breakthrough at The Open will be remembered as a masterclass in perseverance, strategic aggression, and clutch performance under pressure. His historic birdie on the 18th not only secured a narrow victory but also cemented his place among the elite of New Zealand golf, delivering a story that will inspire future generations of players.