Ryan Fox wins 2026 Open at Birkdale, holds off long-term clubhouse leader Cameron Young

Ryan Fox made a final-hole birdie to triumph the 2026 Open Championship astatine Birkdale.

The New Zealander, who had ne'er posted a top-10 decorativeness successful 28 erstwhile appearances astatine majors, made the headlines connected Saturday aft posting conscionable the eighth-ever circular of 62 successful a large tournament.

Throughout Sunday, however, helium was chasing, astir notably Cameron Young who went retired aboriginal and recorded a circular of 64 to instrumentality the clubhouse lead.

As overnight person Sam Burns faltered and failed to marque a birdie aft the 2nd hole, bogeys astatine the ninth and 11th for Fox near him facing an uphill task.

However, the 39-year-old posted 4 birdies connected his last six holes, defying the unfortunate bogey that helium had connected the 15th erstwhile his shot was near against the partition of the bunker.

Nevertheless, Fox made amends astatine the 16th and settled par connected the 17th, leaving him alert that a birdie connected the past would spot him assistance the Claret Jug.

New Zealand's second-ever Champion Golfer of the Year, Ryan Fox ??@TheOpen pic.twitter.com/vm3ruMcX2I

A monster thrust was followed by a nerveless attack changeable to wrong 10 feet, earlier Fox paced his putt to perfection for the infinitesimal of his career.

Fox, who started the tourney arsenic the satellite fig 56, had antecedently counted the BMW PGA Championship and Canadian Open triumphs arsenic the biggest wins of his career.

Where did Scheffler, McIlroy decorativeness 2026 Open?

World fig 1 and defending champion Scottie Scheffler mounted his ain situation with 4 birdies during a faultless opening 12 holes.

A birdie connected the past would person seen him articulation Young connected nine-under-par, but the consequent bogey was his 3rd dropped changeable successful six holes.

The last leaderboard of The 154th Open. pic.twitter.com/4iICVyeToR

He yet finished 4th alongside hometown favourite Tommy Fleetwood, whose 68 was his 4th successive circular successful the sixties.

Rory McIlroy finished successful a stock of 40th spot aft shooting a one-over-par 71 connected Sunday.