Ryan Fox was in disbelief at the quality of his play on the final hole of The Open, having beaten Cameron Young by one shot to claim his maiden major triumph.

The 39-year-old New Zealander birdied four of the final six holes to pip Young to the Claret Jug on Sunday, having only previously registered two PGA Tour victories.

After missing a birdie putt at the 17th, Fox knew making par on the last would send him into a play-off with clubhouse leader Young.

But an impressive drive off the tee and a sensational approach shot onto the green left him with a 12-foot birdie putt, which he holed with confidence to claim victory.

Fox, who is only the third New Zealander to win a men's major after Bob Charles at The Open in 1963 and Michael Campbell at the U.S. Open in 2005, admitted he was surprised by the quality of his play in that all-important moment.

He told Sky Sports: "Everything is shaking. I'm not quite sure how I hit it straight! 

"As soon as I saw it tracking to the left edge, I thought, 'this has got a chance!' 

"I was happy it was the right speed. I don't really know what I was thinking then. I couldn't believe it really.

"That putt is a lot easier to hit on a practice green than it is in real life. I was trying to take as many deep breaths as possible to hit that putt."

The final leaderboard of The 154th Open. pic.twitter.com/4iICVyeToR

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 19, 2026

Fox's father Grant was a member of the All Blacks team that won the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987, and he joked that his family would hardly have been able to watch.  

"I spoke to my wife and kids and mum and dad. I don't know if my dad would be able to contain himself when I was coming down the stretch," Fox added. 

"He's never been one who has been very good if he doesn't have control over things!

"I think when he was playing and in control of the output, under pressure, he was fine. But when he doesn't have control, I think he's a nervous wreck. I'm sure he was this morning. 

"I know a lot of Kiwis who would have woken up in the middle of the night to watch, and I'm glad I made it worthwhile for them."

Fox's victory, which came after Aaron Rai triumphed at the PGA Championship, made 2026 the first year to see multiple players win a maiden major title since 2023, when Brian Harman claimed the Claret Jug and Wyndham Clark won the U.S. Open.