The Open: Ryan Fox savors dramatic Royal Birkdale big win, admits his hands ‘were all over the place’ | golf news

Ryan Fox admitted it was a “dream come true” as he defied nerves to claim a dramatic victory at The Open at Royal Birkdale.

The 39-year-old New Zealander produced a superb finish in the final round to overtake clubhouse leader Cameron Young to take victory by one shot.

Fox, who carded a 62 on Saturday to put himself in contention to claim a first major success, appeared to be slipping away after making his second bogey of the day on the 11th.

Back-to-back birdies on the 13th and 14th put him back in the hunt, and then he escaped with just a bogey on the 15th after a nightmare in the greenside bunker.

He followed up a great approach and hit back by birdieing the 16th and then, after missing a chance at the 17th, bravely hit two superb shots at the 18th to claim a 12-foot putt claret jug.

“Just playing the last hole, I stood on the tee and told my caddy Dean (Smith), we’re going to try to win this one,” Fox said.

“I hit two perfect shots. I’m not sure how I hit the putt. My hands were all over the place. I was trying to drive it somewhere toward the hole. It was very real that it went in.

“My focus with the putter all day was to really take a deep breath before I hit and just try to hit a line and I did that.

“I don’t know how I managed to keep the Potter face square enough to line up, but I’ll take it.

“Champion Golfer of the Year got a beautiful ring. It’s a dream come true.”

“You dream of this moment. I don’t know if I ever thought it would come true. Now it has, and it’s great to have my name written in the history of the game. I think it’s great for New Zealand as well. It’s going to be big there.”

Fox is the son of former All Blacks fly-half Grant Fox and grandson of former New Zealand Test captain Marv Wallace.

“We have a great history in our family,” he said. “I was lucky enough to make my own way there. I don’t know if it tops their achievements, but it’s definitely up there.

“I talked to my kids last night, and they said bring back a trophy.

“I don’t know if my father would have been able to handle himself when I was stretched out. He was never one to be very good at not being in control of things.

“I think when he’s playing and the output is in control, he’s good under pressure. But when he’s not in control, I think he’s a nervous wreck. I’m sure he was.”

‘He was aggressive’

Sky Sports golf duo Dame Laura Davies and Andrew Coltart were both full of praise for Fox and the aggressive approach he took on the back nine.

Davies said: “He was the most impressive player all day. He was aggressive; I don’t think he was afraid of losing it. If he lost it because he hit a shot that didn’t work, he was prepared to be aggressive and I strongly believe that’s why he did it.

“When he hit the iron, but when there was a chance, a sniff of a bird, the driver was out, fully committed.

“And the way he played 18 I don’t think you could have painted it any better. He’s going to hit two of the best shots of his life just to give himself a chance to hit that green.”

Coltart added: “I’ve never seen a guy hit through the tape so late in the tournament to win a major championship.

“Even in a place like this. It was fantastic. I think Saturday’s 62 helped reinforce his belief in his ability there.

“When they all struggled with pressure, he stood tall.”

What next?

The next PGA Tour event is the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Minnesota, starting on Thursday, before switching to Sky Sports Golf on Sky Sports+ starting at 7pm.

The 3M Open is part of a golf triple-header live on Sky Sports, with the ISPS Handa Senior Open and ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open also live. The women’s major season concludes with the AIG Women’s Open from 30 July-2 August, also live on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or Flow without any contract.