Ryan Fox produced a finish for the ages at Royal Birkdale to win The 154th Open Championship and secure the first Major title of his career.
The New Zealander arrived at the demanding 18th hole tied for the lead, knowing that a birdie would secure the Claret Jug without the need for a play-off. Fox responded with a superb drive, a composed approach to approximately 12 feet and a confident birdie putt that sparked unforgettable celebrations on the final green.
His winning score of 10-under-par gave him a one-shot victory over Cameron Young and made Fox only the second New Zealand golfer to become Champion Golfer of the Year.
Royal Birkdale's closing hole had proved to be one of the toughest tests of the entire championship, but Fox approached it with an attacking mindset.
After finding the centre of the fairway, he struck an outstanding approach shot into the green and gave himself the opportunity to win outright. With the pressure at its highest, Fox rolled the putt into the centre of the cup to claim one of the most dramatic victories in recent Open Championship history.
Fox began the final round needing to produce something special. A series of important birdies during the closing stretch moved him into contention before his decisive finish on the 72nd hole.
His combination of powerful driving, controlled approach play and confident putting allowed him to overcome a tightly packed leaderboard featuring several of the world's leading golfers.
The victory placed Fox alongside Sir Bob Charles as one of only two New Zealand men to lift the Claret Jug. Charles became the country's first Open champion in 1963, making Fox's success another historic moment for New Zealand golf.
Fox also became his country's fourth Major champion, adding his name to an exclusive group of New Zealand golfers who have succeeded on the sport's biggest stage.
Fox's route to Major success was founded on patience, gradual improvement and years of experience competing around the world.
After turning professional in 2012, he built an impressive career across the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. His Open Championship triumph represented the greatest achievement of that journey and rewarded his determination to continue improving at the highest level.
Fox trusted a predominantly Srixon and Cleveland set-up at Royal Birkdale. His winning equipment included newly introduced Srixon ZXi RKT woods, a blended ZXi iron set, Cleveland RTZ Tour Rack wedges and a Ping blade putter.
| Club | Model | Loft / Set | Shaft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | Srixon ZXi RKT LS+ | 10.5° | Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X |
| Fairway Wood | Srixon ZXi RKT | 15° | Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X |
| Utility Iron | Srixon ZXi5+ | 3-Iron / 20° | Fujikura Ventus Blue HB 9 X |
| Long Iron | Srixon ZXi5 | 4-Iron | True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 |
| Irons | Srixon ZXi7 |
5-Iron-PW | True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 |
| Gap Wedge | Cleveland RTZ Tour Rack |
50° | True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 |
| Sand Wedge | Cleveland RTZ Tour Rack | 56° | True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 |
| Lob Wedge | Cleveland RTZ Tour Rack | 60° | True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 |
| Putter | Ping Anser 2.0 | Blade Putter | Not specified |
| Golf Ball | Srixon Z-Star XV |
Tour Golf Ball | N/A |
Fox introduced the Srixon ZXi RKT LS+ Driver and ZXi RKT Fairway Wood shortly before the championship. Both clubs were paired with Fujikura Ventus Black shafts to provide the stability and control required for Royal Birkdale's demanding tee shots.
He also selected a Srixon ZXi5+ utility iron rather than an additional fairway wood, giving him a penetrating option for positional tee shots and long approaches in links conditions.
A blended Srixon iron configuration gave Fox additional forgiveness in the longer clubs while preserving the control and precision of the ZXi7 model through the scoring irons.
A trio of Cleveland RTZ Tour Rack wedges covered the short-game distances, while his Ping Anser 2.0 putter delivered the decisive stroke on the final green.
Ryan Fox's victory at Royal Birkdale will be remembered for its courage, drama and unforgettable conclusion.
Faced with one of championship golf's most pressurised situations, he committed fully to every shot and produced the birdie required to become Champion Golfer of the Year. The result was a career-defining triumph and a proud new chapter in the history of New Zealand golf.
