Ryan Fox, the 39-year-old New Zealander, just absolutely snatched The Open at Royal Birkdale, sinking a clutch birdie putt on the 18th hole to finish 10-under and claim the Claret Jug. This wasn’t some slow-burn victory, folks; Fox went on an incredible run late in the round to seal the deal, beating out Cameron Young by a single shot. The men’s major tournament calendar for 2026 is officially wrapped, and what a way to go out!
The Clutch Play That Stole the Claret Jug
Fox’s win was pure drama, a masterclass in closing out a major. He caught fire on the back nine, draining four birdies across his final six holes. Talk about being clutch! He even had a bogey on the 15th, which could have derailed everything, but he immediately bounced back with a birdie on the 16th. That rebound showed serious mental toughness, setting the stage for the final two holes. Then came the 18th: a tremendous approach shot to set up an 11-foot birdie putt. Did he blink? Nope. He sunk it with ease, sealing his 10-under score and taking home the trophy. Cameron Young, who was the clubhouse leader for a good chunk of the day after shooting six-under for his round to reach nine-under, could only watch as his lead evaporated in those final moments. What a brutal way to lose, but what an electric performance by Fox!
FedEx Cup Shake-Up as Playoffs Loom
Beyond the Claret Jug itself, this win has some serious ripple effects for the FedEx Cup standings, especially with the Playoffs on the horizon in August. Fox is taking home a massive $3.2 million winner’s purse, and he also earned a hefty 750 points in the FedEx Cup rankings. That huge haul just catapulted him up to 21st overall. Cameron Young, despite finishing second, still pocketed $1.8 million and a crucial 500 FedEx Cup points. He’s now sitting pretty as the third player with over 3,000 FedEx Cup points, which is a massive boost. Sam Burns, who landed in solo third place at eight-under, grabbed $1.18 million and 350 points, moving him up from 10th to 8th in the standings. These points are getting more valuable by the second! Scottie Scheffler, who tied for fourth, is still holding strong as the overall leader, but the gap feels like it’s shrinking.
Close Calls for Young and Burns
While Fox is celebrating, you gotta feel for Cameron Young and Sam Burns. Young played an incredible Sunday, shooting the lowest round of the day to get to nine-under, but it just wasn’t enough. He was the clubhouse leader for so long, thinking he might have it, only for Fox to come in and snatch it away. That’s gotta sting. And Sam Burns, who was the 54-hole leader, stumbled a bit on Sunday with a two-over 72. He’s been close in a few different majors now, and this was another one that slipped through his fingers. Still, both guys are top-tier talent and their FedEx Cup positions show it.
The major tournament calendar is wrapped, but the real heat is coming in August. With the FedEx Cup Playoffs right around the corner, these points just got even more important. Fox is now 21st, Young is third, and Burns is 8th. The race for the ultimate prize is officially heating up!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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