A thrilling final day of the 154th Open Championship saw Ryan Fox storm to his first-ever Major victory. Under intense pressure, Fox was able to withstand pressure from some of the biggest names in Golf, and put together a clutch performance that will be remembered for a lifetime.
Entering the day at -8, things didn't start off great for the New Zealander. He remained -8 through 9 holes, but an emphatic performance from Cam Young saw him rally to -9 earlier in the day. Young made the most of steady conditions before the wind picked up for the afternoon groups, shooting -6 on the day.
Not helping matters was the rise of fan favorite Tommy Fleetwood, who once again found himself in the conversation at his home Major. Fleetwood battled hard and was -3 on the day through 8 holes, before three consecutive bogeys quelled those fires. It didn't stop him from finding a second wind, though. Fleetwood ended with back-to-back birdies in front of adoring fans whose joy would've echoed deep into the eardrums of the groups behind, Fox included. Fleetwood was ultimately two shots back from Young and one from Sam Burns, finishing P4.
Burns also had a tough day at the office, struggling around the greens and dropping three shots early, forcing him to steady the ship in hopes of staying in the picture for lifting the Claret Jug.
A charging Scott Scheffler also threatened to throw the Cat among the Pigeons. The World #1 ended his day -3, and -7 overall, but it was ultimately too little, too late.
Coming into the final hole, it all came down to two men. Sam Burns, who needed a birdie to tie both Fox and Young to force a playoff, and the Wiley Fox himself. While an anxious Cam Young waited to see what his fate would hold.
A sensational approach shot on the narrow par 4 left Fox with a very makeable putt, but the magnitude of that shot cannot be overstated. Finding a green into wind that's surrounded by bunkers and where the ground is so tough that even a slightly heavy shot could shoot off into trouble, was not for the feint of hearted. Doing so and sticking the putt within a dustbin lid might truly be one of the most heroic shots of the entire tournament, something The Open truly delivers time and time again.
As Burns made par, all eyes fell onto Fox. On the final hole, he had one putt. Make it, and his names goes into the history books. Miss it, and a playoff against the days' highest scorer awaited.
He didn't make it easy, the putt sitting on the very edge of the hole before dropping and lifting Royal Birkdale into jubilation. It was a legendary moment, and one that nobody will forget in a hurry.
Royal Birkdale truly tested every golfer this weekend, but Sunday especially. The reality of links Golf hit like a freight train for many as unpredictable winds swirled around Southport, and it claimed the tournament hopes of many. But it was Ryan Fox who stood tall and delivered a moment for the ages when it mattered most.
