Ryan Fox of Tokora, New Zealand has won the 2026 British Open. On Sunday, Fox shot a winning score of -10 at Royal Birkdale to become the third golfer from New Zealand all-time to win a major in men’s golf. Fox follows Bob Charles of Carterton, who won the 1963 British Open at Lytham St. Annes and Michael Campbell of Hawera, who won the 2005 United States Open at Pinehurst.
Fox avoided a playoff on Sunday when he made a birdie putt of 11 feet and seven inches. At the time, Fox was tied with American Cameron Young, and a par putt by Fox would have meant the tournament would have gone to a playoff. Young was alone in second place at -9 after he posted an impressive fourth round score of -6.
Three more golfers were in contention. American Sam Burns was alone in third place at -8, while American Scottie Scheffler and England’s Tommy Fleetwood were tied for fourth place at -7. Scheffler was the defending champion of the British Open and the world number one has won four majors overall. Fleetwood had home support as he is from Southport, England.
Fox’s 2026 British Open will be best remembered by his major-record tying score of 62 in round three. In the fourth round, Fox came through with five birdies and three bogeys for a fourth round score of two-under-par 68. He birdied the second, 13th, 14th, 16th and 18th holes, and bogeyed the ninth, 11th, and 15th holes.
This was Fox’s third notable title. Last year he won at Myrtle Beach and Canada.
