During a turbulent final day at the 154th Open Championship, Ryan Fox maintained his composure under the scorching sun at Royal Birkdale. The 39-year-old New Zealander, son of rugby icon Grant Fox, carded a two-under 68 to narrowly defeat American Cameron Young and claim his first major title.
Needing a birdie on the difficult 18th hole to seal the win, Fox delivered a high-pressure performance. He struck a 330-yard drive into the fairway followed by a precision approach shot that landed in the center of the green. He then calmly sank an 11-foot putt to secure the Claret Jug. This victory marks Fox as only the fourth player in three decades to secure his first major championship at age 39 or older.
His journey to the title was remarkable. After starting with a 72, he trailed significantly in 85th place. However, he rebounded with a 68 on Friday and a historic 62 on Saturday, which tied the record for the lowest score in a men’s major. This accomplishment represents the largest comeback in major championship history following the first 36 holes. Currently ranked 56th globally, Fox is the lowest-ranked golfer to win The Open since Darren Clarke in 2011.
