The Open Championship: Ryan Fox wins first major with one-shot win at Royal Birkdale
Stepping on to the 18th tee box at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in England, Ryan Fox’s mindset was clear.
It was his final hole of the Open Championship. After a record-equalling score of 62 in his eight-under-par third round brought him into contention, he kept himself in the hunt through the final round.
It came down to the last hole: a par would force a playoff with American Cameron Young. A birdie would win it.
With a perfect drive, a perfect approach and a perfect 3.5m putt, Fox became a major champion.
“I played really solid early and had some great shots down the stretch. To play that last hole how I did, I stood on the tee box and I said to my caddy, Dean, we’re going to try and win this,” Fox told Sky Sports.
“I hit two perfect shots. I’m not sure how I hit the putt. My hands were all over the place, I was just trying to get it toward the hole somewhere. It’s surreal that it went in and Champion Golfer of the Year has a nice ring to it.”
The 39-year-old became the fourth Kiwi major champion, joining Sir Bob Charles, Michael Campbell and Dame Lydia Ko. He’s also the second Kiwi to lift the Claret Jug, with Charles winning the Open Championship in 1963.
Playing in the final group of the tournament alongside Sam Burns, Fox was composed throughout.
Coming into the final round trailing Burns by a shot, Fox made a great start with a birdie on the second, before giving the shot back to the course on the par-four ninth.
Young had to wait it out after earlier carding at 64 and looked more likely to be crowned champion when Fox’s approach at the par three 15th found an awkward lie in the bunker – forcing him to hit back towards the tee from the bunker, leading to a bogey.
But he bounced right back with a birdie at the par four 16th to rejoin Young, who ended his tournament with a bogey on 18, in the lead.
He had a birdie chance on 17, but a par meant everything came down to the final hole of the tournament.
On 18, the second-hardest hole on the course, Fox had his moment.
For the win, he gets $5.5 million and automatic entry into all future Open Championships until the age of 60. He also gets five-year exemptions to play in The Masters, PGA Championship, US Open and The Players Championship.
It is the first time Fox has finished in the top 10 at a major, but he had form on British soil having won at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in 2022 followed by the BMW PGA Championship in 2023.
“It’s unbelievable, to be honest,” Fox told Sky Sports. ”I still don’t know what to think. My nerves were all over the place, I’m not quite sure how I hit that putt on 18.
“It is a dream come true. Looking at this trophy now, it’s the first time I’ve seen it up close so it’s pretty amazing.”
While Fox celebrated the win, fellow Kiwi Kazuma Kobori also had a strong result, finishing his tournament two under par in a tie for 28th.
What a morning
Cameron McMillan
Amazing start to the week. Ryan Fox is a major champion! So well deserved for a great Kiwi. And it did it in the best fashion with a birdie at the last.
Ryan Fox talks
Cameron McMillan
"I don't know what to say at the moment. Spoke to my kids last night and they said bring back a trophy. This is a pretty cool one to bring back."
"The golf course was fantastic. The weather was fantastic. This is pretty cool. Sorry if I've forgotten anyone."
Exemptions
Cameron McMillan
For the win he gets $5.5m and automatic entry into all future Open Championships until the age of 55. He also gets five-year exemptions to play in The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Players Championship.
That will also secure a spot in the Presidents Cup.
Cameron McMillan
$5.5m for the win.
Kiwis to win a major
Cameron McMillan
Sir Bob Charles, Michael Campbell, Dame Lydia Ko and now Ryan Fox. Amazing.
Ryan Fox wins the Open
Cameron McMillan
He drops it. And he wins! Ryan Fox is the 'Champion Golfer of the Year'.
Fox birdie to win the Open...
Cameron McMillan
Burns clears the way and now it's all on Fox. This to become the fourth Kiwi to win a major.
Cameron McMillan
First Burns to join a possible playoff. Nope. Burns to finish one off the lead.
Cameron McMillan
Fox marches up the 18th and he has looked at this putt from every angle.
18th hole par four - Fox has another birdie chance
Cameron McMillan
The green is cleared for Fox. Can he get this close and have another birdie look. And what another great approach.
Ryan Fox has 11 feet for birdie and the major! That's 3.5m for the win.
18th hole par four - Strong drive from Fox
Cameron McMillan
He picks up his tee quickly. Hopefully he won't need it again. Great drive up the fairway. He's left with 160m to the hole.
Burns also on the fairway.
Cameron McMillan
Si Woo Kim rolls off the green with his approach to the last. He needed to sink that to get to -9. So he's out of the mix.
18th hole par four - Fox this week
Cameron McMillan
Fox has gone par, bogey, par at the 18th this week. This is the second hardest hole.
Cameron McMillan
Lucas Herbert finishes with a one-over 71 and ends at -6. Not a bad tournament for the Aussie Ripper.
They head to the last. Birdie wins it for Fox
Cameron McMillan
Now Fox for the outright lead
Cameron McMillan
Just goes wide right of the hole. A good chance gone there. He taps in for a par.
Fox's chance to take the lead
Cameron McMillan
Burns out of the rough with this third and goes over the flag. Still a birdie look but he has about 30 feet.
Ryan Fox has nine feet 10 inches for the outright lead and one hole to play! He'll have to wait on Burns first though. Burns can't make the long birdie.
Playoff rules
Cameron McMillan
Three hole aggregate playoff. 14th, 15th and 18th.
17th hole - Par five - Fox has a birdie look
Cameron McMillan
Great approach by Fox and he's got a chance for the outright lead. He has nine feet for birdie. What a shot.
Cameron McMillan
Burns going for it and he doesn't like it. Well short and to the left.
Cameron McMillan
Now Si Woo Kim to get to -8. Just goes left of the hole.
17th hole - Par five
Cameron McMillan
Fox just advances the ball up the fairway as he didn't have much to do there. Leaves him 130m to the hole.
Cameron McMillan
Si Woo Kim's chip doesn't have enough on it and he's left with 12 feet for birdie.
17th hole - Par five. Fox in the bunker
Cameron McMillan
Fox's drive at the par five finds the fairway bunker. He might need to lay up here. He'll have to play it with his feet outside of the bunker. The drive looked great but the dry fairways saw the ball keep rolling and just made the bunker.
Fox left with 230m to the hole.
Cameron McMillan
Si Woo Kim with his second at the par five. He needs something here. He lands the green but it rolls off. He'll have a chance to chip close for birdie.
Cameron McMillan
Bogey for Lucas Herbert at the 17th and that ends his run for the major.
Cameron McMillan
And Cameron Young is on the practice putting green getting warmed up.
Cameron McMillan
Par for Burns.
16th hole - par four - Fox for the lead...
Cameron McMillan
Got it! And Fox is back in the lead with a birdie at the 16th and a par five to come.
16th hole - par four
Cameron McMillan
Burns gets out of the bunker and is left with four feet for par.
Cameron McMillan
At the par five 17th, Herbert in all sorts of trouble. He finds the bunker with his third.
16th hole - par four - Fox has birdie putt
Cameron McMillan
Burns from the fairway and he lands into the greenside bunker.
Fox has a decent lie and has a good angle to the pin. Great shot Foxy! He lands the green and has about 14 feet for birdie and the lead.
16th hole - par four. Fox finds the rough
Cameron McMillan
Fox off the tee and he finds the rough just off the fairway on the left. Has 151 yards in to the hole.
Meanwhile at the 18th, Tommy Fleetwood finishes with a birdie to card a 68 and end at -7.
Bogey for Kim
Cameron McMillan
Si Woo Kim drops back to -7 with two to play.
Holes to play
Cameron McMillan
16th - Par four
17th - Par five
18th - Par four
15th hole - par three - Bogey for Fox
Cameron McMillan
Fox taps in the bogey and drops back to a share of second. Three holes to play.
Cameron McMillan
Si Woo Kim chipping off the green at the 16th. His third and he doesn't get close leaving a long par putt.
15th hole - par three
Cameron McMillan
Burns now with a birdie look to join Cameron Young at -9. Just goes by the hole. Burns remains at -8.
15th hole - par three
Cameron McMillan
Fox has to hit the ball backwards towards the tee as his ball was up against the side of the bunker. No way to get to the green. He now is 40m from the pin with the whole green in front of him.
And a great long chip from Fox leaves him with around five feet for bogey. So the lead didn't last for long.
Cameron McMillan
At the 16th, Herbert can't make his birdie and he'll stay at seven-under.
15th hole - par three
Cameron McMillan
Fox tees off at the par three but he's found the greenside bunker. And the ball does not look in a good spot. He was probably half a metre from getting over the bunker. Just caught the edge.
Burns lands on the green and has a birdie look from around 18 feet.
Holes to play
Cameron McMillan
15th - Par three
16th - Par four
17th - Par five
18th - Par four
14th hole (par five) - Fox tied for the lead
Cameron McMillan
BIRDIE for Fox and it's in the lead with Cameron Young at -9.
14th hole (par five)
Cameron McMillan
Burns with a long birdie attempt and that's not going in. Not enough on it.
Si Woo Kim for birdie at the 15th from distance and that not misses.
Cameron McMillan
At the 16th hole Herbert needs to get close and he finds the green. But left with about 20 feet for birdie.
14th hole (par five)
Cameron McMillan
Fox chips to within 2m for a birdie chance.
Burns only just gets out of the bunker.
14th hole (par five)
Cameron McMillan
Fox with his second and in lands in the rough by the green. A chance to chip close for a birdie look. Ball is in some harder grass though.
Burns also with the three wood and lands in the greenside bunker.
Cameron McMillan has been a sports journalist since 2003 and is NZME’s Deputy Head of Sport.
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.