Ryan Fox had played 29 majors and never finished in the top 10. On Sunday at Royal Birkdale he holed a 12-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to win The Open by one.
It was only the fifth birdie of the day on the 18th, a long par 4. Fox finished on 10 under, 270, with rounds of 72, 68, 62 and 68.
How Sunday went
Fox started the day two behind the 54-hole leader, Sam Burns. Burns didn't make a birdie over his last 12 holes. Cameron Young, who began seven off the pace, shot 64 and sat at the top of the leaderboard for about two hours without hitting a shot.
Fox had a pair of bogeys on the back nine. He answered with four birdies over his last six holes, tying Young at the 16th and then winning it at the last. Young, who was one behind at St Andrews four years ago as well, finished second on 9 under. Burns was third.
Who he is
Fox is 39, a New Zealander and ranked 56th in the world before this week. His father is the former All Black Grant Fox. His biggest title before Sunday was the 2023 BMW PGA Championship.
- Prize $3.25 million from a record $17.75 million purse
- History The second New Zealander to win The Open, after Bob Charles in 1963
- Majors The third New Zealander to win any men's major
- Worldwide wins 10
On the phone to his family after the putt, Fox told them he was bringing a trophy home after all.
Sources: AP via PGA Tour (19 July); Golf Digest (19 July); Golf Monthly via Octafield (20 July).