Ryan Fox buried an 11-foot birdie on 18 to win The Open, crushing Cameron Young’s comeback and surviving Royal Birkdale’s chaos.
Ryan Fox turned the 2026 Open Championship into his personal ambush.
The New Zealander arrived at Royal Birkdale without a top-15 finish in any major championship.
He left Sunday night holding the Claret Jug after producing one of the most ruthless closing moments in recent Open history.
Fox needed a birdie on the 72nd hole to avoid a playoff with Cameron Young.
He got it.
After splitting the 18th fairway, Fox fired his approach to roughly 11 feet on a hole that had surrendered only four birdies during Sunday’s final round.
With the championship hanging on one putt, Fox rolled it into the center of the cup and immediately raised both arms.
Game over.
The winning birdie pushed Fox to 10-under, one shot clear of Young, who had mounted the day’s biggest comeback.
Young began Sunday seven strokes off the lead before posting 9-under and spending hours waiting to see whether anyone could catch him.
Fox nearly played himself out of the tournament.
Bogeys at Nos. 9 and 11 left him chasing, but he responded with three back-nine birdies before delivering the final blow at the 18th.
His victory also completed a remarkable week that included a record-tying 62, matching the lowest round ever shot in a men’s major.
Royal Birkdale became a playground for historic scores.
Lucas Herbert, Sam Burns and Fox each shot 62 during the championship. Herbert even had a short par putt on the 18th for a 61 before missing and settling for a record-tying round.
Burns used his 62 and a third-round 65 to earn a two-shot lead entering Sunday. His advantage disappeared almost immediately.
Three bogeys over his first six holes forced him into comeback mode, and he never regained control.
Bryson DeChambeau’s week brought a different kind of drama.
DeChambeau received a two-stroke penalty after officials ruled he had improved his lie during Friday’s second round.
The decision sparked arguments, withdrawal speculation and another public clash between DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy.
Fans largely backed DeChambeau, but the penalty damaged his position. He never mounted a serious weekend charge and finished tied for 14th.
The controversy will linger. So will the record rounds and Burns’ collapse.
But the final image belongs to Fox.
One perfect swing, one fearless putt and one unforgettable finish transformed a major outsider into the Champion Golfer of the Year.
