Ryan Fox secured victory at The Open Championship on Sunday, birdying the 18th hole at Royal Birkdale to finish at 10-under par. He edged out American contenders Cameron Young, who finished one shot back, and Sam Burns, who was two shots behind.
Fox's triumph at the 154th Open Championship marks a significant moment for international golf and continues a challenging major championship season for American players. Entering the final round, Burns held a two-shot lead at 10-under, with Fox and South Korea's Si Woo Kim close behind. Burns had posted historically low scores through the first three rounds, including a 62 in the second round, matching the men's major record.
Final Round Drama
The final round saw significant shifts in the leaderboard. Burns, who had experienced major championship heartbreak before, initially extended his lead to 11-under with a birdie on the second hole. However, he then bogeyed three consecutive holes from No. 4 through No. 6, losing his advantage. Meanwhile, Cameron Young mounted a charge, starting the final round seven shots off the lead. He carded a front-nine 29 and reached 10-under with a birdie on the 17th, but bogeyed the final hole.
Fox, tied with Young at 9-under heading into the final hole, faced the challenging par-4 18th. After a strong drive, he hit his approach shot within 12 feet and sank the birdie putt to win. Burns, playing the same hole, had an opportunity to force a playoff but his long birdie putt fell short.
American Golf's Difficult Season
Fox's victory capped what has been described as the roughest major championship season for American golf in 12 years. Prior to The Open, American golfers had won 10 of the previous 11 men's majors. This run included a sweep of the 2024 majors by Americans, followed by Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, and Scheffler again winning the first three majors of 2026. Wyndham Clark's win at the U.S. Open was the sole American major victory in 2026. This marks the first time since 2014 that American men have won only one of the four major tournaments.
Further contributing to the narrative of shifting global golf power, Europe decisively won the 2025 Ryder Cup on American soil. The European team entered the Sunday singles matches with a significant lead, ultimately winning 15-13. Prior to Fox's win at The Open, European players had also captured the Masters and PGA Championship in 2026. The U.S. team faces another challenging Ryder Cup in 2027 at Adare Manor in Ireland, having not won on European soil since 1993.