Ryan Fox won the 154th British Open, held at Royal Birkdale on Sunday. He secured his first Major title, finishing the tournament with a score of 10-under par.
Tournament Final
New Zealander Ryan Fox won thanks to a birdie on the final hole, achieving 10-under par. He played a round of 2-under par on the final day, beating American Cameron Young by one stroke to claim the Claret Jug.
The 39-year-old player, son of a former All Blacks rugby international, was ranked 52nd after the first two rounds with a par score. However, on Saturday, he tied the historical record for the lowest score in a Major—62, which allowed him to contend for a historic achievement.
Fox's Performance
On the tense final day at Royal Birkdale, while other contenders struggled, Fox demonstrated superior play under pressure. He made birdies on holes 13, 14, 16, and 18, ensuring the most significant victory of his career.
Fox shared his feelings, saying: 'I don't know what to think right now.' He added that he spoke with his children the day before, and they asked him to 'bring home the trophy,' considering the award very cool for them.
Historical Context and Opponents
Fox is the third New Zealander to win a Major after Bob Charles at the 1963 British Open and Michael Campbell at the 2005 US Open. The New Zealander maintained his composure while other players, unaccustomed to the pressure of a Major battle, faltered in the tense final round.
Sam Burns had a two-shot lead at the start of the day but lost it due to three consecutive bogies on holes 4, 5, and 6, denying the American a chance at his first Major. He finished third with a score of 8-under par. Kim Si-woo from South Korea approached his Major breakthrough, having nine holes left to play, but trailed by four strokes over the last nine holes.
Young's scores looked as if he played the last nine holes four strokes over par on Saturday, leaving the American seven strokes behind the leader at the start of the day. However, the world number 4 made a surge on the first nine holes, completing it in 29 strokes to move from 3-under par to 8-under par. He also made additional birdies on two par fifths, holes 14 and 17, to finish at 10-under par. Nevertheless, on the 18th hole, he hit the sand near the tee, and his second shot hit the bunker face, leading to an expensive bogey.
Other Participants' Results
Defending champion Scott Sheffield finished second overall with a score of 7-under par, as he had to make too many mistakes through an emotional final round. The world number 1 started the day six strokes behind but halved the gap thanks to three birdies in the first five holes. However, bogeys on holes 13, 15, and 18 ensured he would not add to his four Majors in 2026.
Local hero Tommy Fleetwood finished alongside Sheffield, after briefly giving his fans hope of an Englishman winning the British Open, which they had awaited since 1992. The world number 9 was at 3-under par after eight holes, approaching the lead. Three consecutive bogeys brought Fleetwood back to the level he started the day at—5-under par—before he finished the game with birdie-birdie and entered the top four.
Rory McIlroy was never truly in contention for his seventh Major and finished the tournament with a score of 71, finishing at 1-under par. World number 2 noted: 'Every time I got a little momentum, I seemed to bogey. Just one of those weeks where I couldn't find my rhythm.'
Bryson DeChambeau's two-shot penalty on Friday during the second day ultimately did not decide the championship, as the American finished with a score of four under par.
