Ryan Fox birdies 18th to win 154th Open at Royal Birkdale, first major title at 39

The winning moment

Ryan Fox rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th green at Royal Birkdale to win the 154th Open Championship by one stroke. The 39-year-old New Zealander, who had never finished in the top 10 of a major, shot a final-round 68 for a 10-under-par total of 270. His putt came just 22 seconds after playing partner Sam Burns missed a birdie attempt that would have forced a playoff. Fox raised his arms in triumph as the grandstands erupted.

I hit two shots exactly how I wanted to hit them. I didn't feel anything for the putt; everything was shaking that much. I was just happy to hit it somewhat.

A fast player's triumph

Fox is known as one of the quickest players in professional golf. His caddie, Dean Smith, called him "the fastest player in the world." NBC commentator Jim "Bones" Mackay said he could barely recite Fox's yardage before the ball was struck. Fox needed barely half a minute to read, line up and hole the winning putt after Burns missed.

I was never methodical at anything, to be honest, and it just carried over into golf. The less time I have to think about it, the less bad stuff can creep in there.

Bob Charles, the 90-year-old who won the 1963 Open and remains New Zealand's only other male major champion, praised Fox's pace. "Ryan is a refreshing player," Charles told the New Zealand Herald. "He plays the way the game should be played."

Young's agonizing wait

Cameron Young shot a best-of-the-day 64, including a front-nine 29, to post 9-under 271 and then waited two and a half hours as the clubhouse leader. He was hitting balls on the range when the roar from the 18th green signaled Fox's birdie. Young, the world No. 4, had a chance to force a playoff but bogeyed the 18th after finding a fairway bunker. It was his second runner-up finish at The Open, following St. Andrews in 2022.

It could have been 60. I played a great round of golf, and I did it in a really good way.

Key bogey on 15

Fox's victory hinged on a bogey at the 241-yard par-3 15th. His tee shot ricocheted off a bunker and settled against the lip, leaving no play toward the hole. He hacked out backward, then chipped to six feet and made the putt to stay one shot behind Young. Fox later called it a pivotal hole.

New Zealand celebrates

Fox is the son of All Blacks rugby great Grant Fox and grandson of former New Zealand cricket captain Merv Wallace. His win makes him the fourth New Zealander to claim a major, joining Charles, Michael Campbell and Lydia Ko. New Zealanders woke to the news on a winter Monday morning, with many having watched the final round through the night.

We've got a great history in our family. The other great thing is I had no pressure on me to follow in any of their footsteps. I don't know if this tops their achievements, but it's certainly right up there.