2026 Open Championship final round recap: Ryan Fox wins Claret Jug for first major title
Ryan Fox won his first major title at the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, finishing at 10 under par. At 39 years old, he becomes the third New Zealander to win a men's major championship.
Why it matters
This victory marks a significant milestone in professional golf, highlighting an unconventional career path and a rare major win for a New Zealand athlete.
From starting competitive golf at 18 to winning his first major title at 39, Ryan Fox has had an unconventional rise to becoming the Champion Golfer of the Year.
On Sunday at Royal Birkdale, Fox had a birdie attempt at the par-4 18th to win The 154th Open Championship outright. Known for his quick pace of play, there was little build up after Sam Burns holed his putt. Fox stepped up and sent the ball on its way.
A quick 11 feet and 7 inches later, he was officially a major champion.
Cameron Young, waiting more than two hours for a potential playoff, packed things up, resigned to wait another eight months to try to win his first major title.
Fox’s 10 under overall bested Young’s 9 under and Burns’ 8 under. Scottie Scheffler and Tommy Fleetwood rounded out the top five, tying for fourth at 7 under.
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