Michael Campbell on Ryan Fox’s Open triumph
Morning Report
Ryan Fox stayed iced cool at the end of four long and hot days at Royal Birkdale to sink a birdie putt on the 18th and win the 154th British Open by one stroke.
Fox was level with long-time clubhouse leader Cameron Young on nine under heading down the last but played a stunning approach shot and then sunk a 20 foot birdie.
“It’s unbelievable to be honest,” Fox said during the television coverage.
“I still don’t know what to think, my nerves are all over the place. I’m not quite sure how I hit that putt on 18 and yeah, look it’s, it is a dream come true.
“Looking at this trophy now is, it’s the first time I’ve seen it up close so it’s pretty amazing,” he said.
Golf NZ boss on Ryan Fox’s Open Championship win
Morning Report
Kiwi Michael Campbell, who won the US Open in 2005, told Morning Report Fox’s last hole was “just phenomenal”.
“I mean, those last two shots, world-class. He beat the best players in the world. And to make birdie, to win the Open Championship, to be the champion golfer of the year, I’ll tell you what, that’s up there with, I think, one of New Zealand’s sporting achievements ever, ever, ever.
“I’ve known Foxy for a long time now, since he turned pro, and he’s such a gritty, determined little character. He’s very feisty and never gives up, and that’s a true sign of a champion, of a major winner. He did it in a different style than me. I was trying to defend my lead, whereas he had to go chase after it, and he chased them down.”
Campbell said it was a lot of pressure to “go out there and bury the last hole, which he did”.
“And to be the champion goal for the year was just incredible.”
What Fox could do with a golf ball was “pretty phenomenal”.
“I said to the guys about a year ago, maybe, you know, the rest of the players, that this guy’s going to win a major, and it came true.”
Fox’s final round 68 left him with a total of 270, with Young, who carded a stunning 64, on 271. American Sam Burns, the overnight leader, finished third on eight under par.
New Zealand’s Ryan Fox celebrates his birdie putt to win the 2026 Open Championship.
ADRIAN DENNIS
A compelling final day alongside the Irish Sea began with Burns two strokes clear on a tightly-bunched leaderboard.
But as the various challengers first threatened and then fell away in a gripping drama played out over the dunes, it looked as though Young’s 64 might prove decisive.
Young, who began the day in a tie for 20th, had been finished for two hours and was hitting balls on the range as a playoff looked increasingly likely.
Fox, who blasted into contention with a men’s major record-equalling 62 on Saturday, seemed to be fading around the turn but found inspiration down the stretch with four birdies in his final six holes.
He could only par the par-five 17th after getting unlucky when his tee shot rolled into a fairway bunker.
That meant a birdie was required on the treacherous 18th to win outright. His next three shots will go down in New Zealand sporting folklore as he saved the best to last.
The scoreboard over the Royal Birkdale 18th green showing New Zealand’s Ryan Fox as the winner of The Open Championship in 2026.
ANDY BUCHANAN
He smashed his drive down the barren fairway, then flighted a brilliant approach to 20 feet. In front of thousands of fans he then strokes his ball straight into the middle of the cup.
“I stood on the tee and said to my caddie Dean, you know we’re going to try to win this and I hit two perfect shots.
“I’m not sure how I hit the putt, as my hands were all over the place. I was just trying to get it towards the hole somewhere and yeah, it’s surreal that it went in and yeah, champion golfer of the year’s got a pretty good ring to it,” he said.
Soon after, Fox strolled off to sign his card, and was on the phone to his family, who were back in Florida. The next call was to parents in New Zealand, including his dad, former All Blacks first five Grant Fox.
Fox is just the second New Zealander to win the men’s Open Championship, following in the footsteps of Sir Bob Charles, who won it in 1963.
New Zealand’s Ryan Fox with the Claret Jug, after winning The Open Championship in 2026.
ANDY BUCHANAN
The only other New Zealanders to have won majors are Dame Lydia Ko who won the 2015 Evian Championship, the 2016 ANA Inspiration and the 2024 Women’s Open Championship.
Campbell won the US Open in 2005.
– Reuters with additional reporting from RNZ