Ryan Fox won the 154th British Open at Royal Birkdale on July 19, 2026, by sinking a birdie putt on the final hole to finish 10-under-par and claim the championship [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. The 39-year-old Fox fired a final round 68 for a total score of 270, edging out American Cameron Young by one stroke [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7]. Young, who shot an impressive closing 64, made a bogey on the last hole after his approach landed in a bunker, missing a chance to force a playoff [5, 7].

Fox’s victory was marked by a record-tying 62 in the third round on July 18, equaling the lowest round ever at a men's major tournament and propelling him from tied 52nd after two rounds into contention [1, 2, 3, 4, 7]. He made the largest comeback from a 36-hole position in the history of men’s majors to capture the title [2, 7].

After opening with a 72 on July 17 that left him tied 85th, Fox steadily improved, closing with aggressive and composed birdies on holes 13, 14, 16, and the final 18th to secure the win [1, 2, 3, 4, 7]. The overnight leader, Sam Burns, finished third at eight-under-par after a subdued final round [1, 4, 5, 7]. World number one Scottie Scheffler tied for fourth at seven-under-par [1].

Fox is only the second New Zealand man to win the Open Championship, after Bob Charles in 1963, and the third New Zealand male major champion alongside Charles and Michael Campbell [1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8]. The winner is the son of former All Black rugby player Grant Fox and grandson of New Zealand cricket captain Merv Wallace [2, 3, 6, 8].

Before this triumph, Fox had never finished in the top 10 of a major and turned professional relatively late in his career [3, 8]. He credited his father caddying for him during a difficult period as a turning point: “My second year on the Aussie Tour, I was pretty close to giving it up. My dad came over and caddied for me and he said to me, ‘Why do you play this game?’ And I said, ‘Well, it’s supposed to be fun’” [8]. Reflecting on his final putt, Fox said: “You can’t feel your hands, I know that. My focus with the putter all day was, just take a really deep breath before I hit it and just try to hit a line and I did that on 18. I was shaking” [6]. After the win he said: “It’s still surreal to be honest. To have my name in golf history and to be called the champion golfer of the year is more than a dream come true” [7].

The British Open concludes a major championship season with Fox’s victory providing a breakthrough on July 19, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7].