07/19/26 01:12:00
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07/19 13:11 CDT Ryan Fox wins the British Open with birdie on the final hole
Ryan Fox wins the British Open with birdie on the final hole
By DOUG FERGUSON
AP Golf Writer
SOUTHPORT, England (AP) --- Ryan Fox of New Zealand survived a wild ride along
the back nine of Royal Birkdale and delivered the biggest putt of his life
Sunday, making a 12-foot birdie on the final hole to win the British Open for
his first major title.
Five players had a share of the lead at some point Sunday. Cameron Young was
atop the leaderboard for two hours without hitting a shot because he finished
his 64 more than two hours earlier.
Fox never lost hope, even after a pair of bogeys on the back, and the
39-year-old son of an All Blacks rugby player delivered the goods when it
counted. He birdied the 16th to tie Young for the lead, and then made birdie on
the toughest hole to become the third Kiwi to win a major.
Fox closed with a 2-under 68 and thrust both of those powerful arms into the
air. He was on the phone with his family moments later and heard saying, "You
asked me to bring a trophy home, and I am, aren't I?"
His name will go on the base of that shiny claret jug, joining Bob Charles of
New Zealand from 1963.
His sterling moment brought more disappointment for Young. The American also
finished one shot behind in the British Open at St. Andrews four years ago, and
he had a Sunday lead on the front nine at the Masters until Rory McIlroy
overtook him.
Sam Burns, the 54-hole leader who was never planning to be at the Open until
his wife gave birth to their daughter earlier than expected, lost a two-shot
lead and didn't make birdie over the last 12 holes to finish two shots behind.
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler somehow managed to stick around until the
end, getting two bad bounces that cost him momentum, then getting one big break
for a most improbable birdie but failing to birdie the 18th. He closed with a
67 and shared fourth with hometown star Tommy Fleetwood, who fell back early
but thrilled the thousands packed along the dunes with a birdie-birdie finish
for a 68.
Missing from all drama, remarkably, was Bryson DeChambeau. He lost a golf ball
and made triple bogey on the 11th hole and didn't make a birdie until he was
well out of contention. That two-shot penalty he received Friday for improving
the path of his swing wasn't an issue at the end. DeChambeau shot a 72 and tied
for 14th.
Fox won for the 10th time worldwide, his biggest title before Sunday coming at
the BMW PGA Championship in 2023. He is the oldest first-time major champion
since Henrik Stenson was 40 at Royal Troon 10 years ago.
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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
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