Ryan Fox wins Open at Royal Birkdale with dramatic birdie on 18
Ryan Fox was crowned Open champion after converting a birdie on the 18th to finish one shot clear of Cameron Young at Royal Birkdale. Young, who had completed his round more than two hours earlier, had stood at nine under par before Fox’s late surge delivered the title.
Three generations of the same family are now linked to the Claret Jug, with Fox continuing a sporting dynasty that includes a New Zealand rugby legend and a grandfather who captained the country at cricket. He drew on the fortitude of his father, Grant, to produce the decisive finish in front of the links gallery. The win provided a striking finale to a tournament that had been dominated in part by headlines around Bryson DeChambeau and a rules breach. Rory McIlroy also made headlines by hinting at DeChambeau joining the Irish Open.
Cameron Young’s earlier finish left him sitting at nine under and waiting as the final groups made their way down the closing holes. When Fox reached the 18th tee he was level with the American and needing a birdie to move clear. The tension on the last hole built as spectators watched the two contenders’ fortunes come down to a single hole.
Fox answered in emphatic fashion. He drove 330 yards down the fairway on the 18th, played an approach iron to 11ft and holed the putt for a birdie three. That sequence secured his one-shot victory over Young and ensured the Claret Jug would travel to New Zealand. The closing moments drew immediate reaction from the crowd and shifted focus away from earlier off-course controversies.
Young’s challenge had been strong enough to put pressure on the leaders, but his overnight finish left him unable to respond to Fox’s final surge. The American’s earlier completion of his round meant he could only watch as challengers attempted to overtake his total. Fox’s composed approach on the final hole proved decisive in a tightly contested finish.
The result carries significance for Fox personally and for his sporting family’s legacy, joining three generations and three sports with the tournament’s trophy. For the championship itself, the dramatic ending offered a clear sporting narrative after days of debate over other incidents.
Fox’s victory at Royal Birkdale will be remembered for the precision of his closing hole and the sudden swing in fortune at the very end. Cameron Young finished a single shot adrift, and the headlines from the week will now include a new Open champion etched into the history of the event.