“It is a dream come true. Looking at this trophy now, it’s the first time I’ve seen it up close so it’s pretty amazing.
“I played really solid early and had some great shots down the stretch. To play that last hole how I did, I stood on the tee box and I said to my caddy Dean we’re going to try and win this.
“I hit two perfect shots. I’m not sure how I hit the putt. My hands were all over the place, I was just trying to get it toward the hole somewhere. It’s surreal that it went in and Champion Golfer of the Year has a nice ring to it.
“It’s always been see a shot hit a shot. As soon as I start thinking about it too much some bad stuff creeps in. That was the process down the stretch. I had some good numbers coming in for iron shots on 16, 17 and 18 and I just picked my shot, hit it and thankfully executed pretty well.”
It is the first time Fox has finished in the top 10 at a major but he had form on British soil having won at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in 2022 followed by the BMW PGA Championship in 2023.
For the win he gets $5.5m and automatic entry into all future Open Championships until the age of 55. He also gets five-year exemptions to play in The Masters, PGA Championship, US Open, and The Players Championship.
Playing in the final group of the day with overnight leader Sam Burns, Fox made a strong start with a birdie at the second hole but remained two back from Burns before the American carded three straight bogeys opened the door for the field.
Fox drifted back with bogeys at the ninth and 11th holes but surged into contention with back-to-back birdies at 13 and 14 saw him join Young at nine-under.
Young had to wait it out after earlier carding at 64 and looked more likely to be crowned champion when Fox’s approach at the par three 15th found an awkward lie in the bunker forcing him to hit back towards the tee from the bunker leading to a bogey.
But he bounced right back with a birdie at the par four 16th to re-join Young in the lead.
Fox’s brilliant approach play continued as he set up a birdie look at the par five 17th, leaving less than 3m for a four but the putt just went right of the hole.
The iron play left him with another birdie attempt at the last hole from a similar range and Fox made the most of the second chance, draining the putt to win in dramatic fashion.
Ryan Fox celebrates winning the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Photo / Getty Images
Cameron McMillan has been a sports journalist since 2003 and is NZME’s Deputy Head of Sport.