Ryan Fox made history at The Open Championship when he became just the second New Zealander to win golf’s oldest major – but it was what happened after the final putt dropped that has the golfing world talking.
It was a victory that ended a 63-year wait for a New Zealand winner and instantly etched Fox’s name into Open Championship folklore.
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The 39-year-old finished four gruelling rounds at 10-under par, with a birdie on the final hole securing the Claret Jug and a winner’s cheque of US$3.2 million (A$4.57 million).
His incredible triumph had been building throughout the week, highlighted by a third-round 62 that equalled the lowest round ever recorded in a men’s major championship. Australian Lucas Herbert and American Sam Burns have also achieved the feat at The Open Championship.
Fox, known for his fast-paced style of play – needing just 22 seconds to hole the winning 12-foot putt – has since become just as well known for the celebrations that followed his maiden major championship victory.
SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND – JULY 19: Ryan Fox of New Zealand celebrates victory on the 18th green on day four of the The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 19, 2026 in Southport, England. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show, Fox revealed just how wild the celebrations became.
“I jumped the gun a little bit. It (the Claret Jug) got filled a little bit too early and then I had to take more official photos, and it all got tipped out.
“We finished up about 3am. on Monday morning and I had a car picking me up at 4.15am.
“So it’s safe to say I didn’t have any sleep before going to the airport and heading back home.
“But I’ve even had my five-year-old daughter ask me, ‘Is there any wine in the Claret Jug?’ So she gets it.”
Sport runs deep in Fox’s family. He is the son of New Zealand All Blacks legend Grant Fox and the grandson of former New Zealand cricketer Merv Wallace.
Grant has played a significant role in his golfing journey, caddying for his son throughout his amateur career and even at stages during his professional career.
When asked about speaking with his family after the victory, Fox admitted his normally composed father was anything but calm.
“I think you probably saw the conversation in the little room afterwards, the holding room or whatever it was. I got to call my wife and kids and also mum and dad,” Fox said.
“I think Dad was pretty lost for words, which doesn’t happen very much for him to be honest.
“I think he would’ve been a nervous wreck.
“He was always renowned as cool and calm under pressure. Obviously, goalkicking to try to win games and stuff, you have to be able to deal with pressure.
“But when he wasn’t in control, he’s pretty terrible with stuff. So, I imagine he was pacing around the living room, just not knowing what to think coming down those last few holes.
“I kind of would’ve liked to have been a fly on the wall to see how that played out back home in New Zealand.
“He gave up a lot. He used to caddie for me when I was playing amateur golf and even into my professional career.
“He was always there. There was never any pressure to carry on in his footsteps or play rugby.”
Fox also shared with McAfee and his predominantly American audience a famous rugby tradition he now hopes to recreate with his father.
“I’m looking forward to taking this little trophy home behind me and sharing a little drink out of it with him,” Fox said.
“There’s a tradition in rugby with something called the Bledisloe Cup between New Zealand and Australia. Apparently, it fits 42 beers in it.
“That was always a tradition – to drink beers out of the Bledisloe Cup if you won it.
“I’ve been lucky enough to do it with the current All Blacks team last year back in New Zealand.
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“So yeah, I think it’s tradition to drink something out of the Claret Jug… and it probably should be claret, to be honest.”
McAfee also quizzed Fox about his unconventional golf swing, with the Kiwi revealing the amusing reason behind the technique that has now made him a major champion.
“Can you please tell me about this? I read your story. You didn’t start golfing until you were 18, I believe. Then when you were 24, I think, is whenever you became a pro,” McAfee said.
“But your swing – and this is crazy for me to say because you are 2,000 times better than me as a golfer – everything you do is what they told me was wrong.
“Everything you do, you emphasise even more than I do.
“You’re winning majors with it, and I’m being told I need to get off golf courses. Can you tell me a little bit about your swing? How did we get here?”
For Fox, it has always been about function over form, with the New Zealander saying he has never worried about having a textbook swing.
“I do have a coach, believe me, but it’s always been function over form. If the body moves right, I don’t really care what it looks like,” Fox said.
“It doesn’t look great, but the ball goes where I want it to go most of the time.
“I’ve had a dodgy left ankle. That’s why my left ankle is way flat out. I’ve got very little rotation.
“I’m an ex-rugby player. I’ve still got a rugby player’s body, basically. Nothing moves how it should move compared to most of my peers.”
The Open Championship triumph was Fox’s first victory of the 2026 season after making the cut in 14 of his 16 PGA Tour starts.
It was the third PGA Tour title of his career and, across 94 PGA Tour events, Fox has now earned more than US$12.47 million in prize money.