'The stuff dreams are made of' — Fox holes 12-foot birdie on 18 to win 2026 Open

Ryan Fox holed a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th to secure the 2026 Open Championship, finishing at ten under par. The New Zealander pipped Cameron Young to claim the title.

The victory was confirmed on 2026-07-19T18:17:26.0000000Z. Fox, representing New Zealand, completed his round with a decisive birdie on the final hole after a tense closing stretch. Cameron Young, who challenged throughout, was overtaken by that last-putt finish. The outcome left Fox as the champion on ten under par.

The decisive moment arrived at the 18th when Fox stroked in a 12-foot putt for birdie that ultimately decided the championship. That hole proved to be the turning point between the two contenders as the match approached its conclusion. The putt put Fox ahead on the leaderboard and ended any further contention from his closest rival.

Throughout the closing holes both players had opportunities to seize the lead, but it was Fox who converted when it mattered most. The final birdie underlined the precision of his short game on the day and delivered the margin needed to win. Cameron Young was left to rue the missed chances as Fox celebrated the decisive conversion.

After the putt dropped, Fox reflected on the moment and the victory. Fox said: "The stuff dreams are made of". The remark encapsulated the emotion of sealing a major title with a dramatic finish.

Ryan Fox's final-round birdie on the 18th will stand as the moment that won him the 2026 Open Championship. The New Zealander's ten-under-par total is the official winning score, with Cameron Young finishing behind him.