RYAN FOX produced a sensational finish to seize the Claret Jug and complete an incredible hat-trick for New Zealand’s most celebrated sporting family.
Fox’s dad, Ryan, was one of the All Blacks’ most famous fly halves and kicked them to victory in the inaugural World Cup back in 1987.
Ryan Fox got his hands on the Claret Jug Credit: Getty
The New Zealander came out on top following a dramatic final round Credit: Reuters
And his grandfather, Merv Wallace, captained the New Zealand cricket team and has a stand named after him at the Eden Park Oval.
The newest sporting Fox, 39, deserves to stand shoulder to shoulder with them.
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He separated himself from the chasing pack with a stunning birdie at the last hole, providing a fitting climax to a dramatic final round at The Open.
Just like every one of his Birkdale rivals, Fox suffered plenty of ups and downs before finding himself a shot behind clubhouse leader Cameron Young with three holes to play.
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Young had stormed into the lead by shooting a brilliant closing 64 after starting the day in a share of 20th place.
That lifted him to nine under par, and he spent more than two-and-a-half hours watching his challengers rise and fall – until only Fox was left standing.
The pair were level until the Kiwi’s iron shot at the par three 15th finished right under the lip of a bunker, and his only escape route was to hit the ball back towards the tee.
He gave up a shot back there, but immediately got his reward for taking his medicine as a birdie at 16 earned him a share of the lead again.
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Fox became his country’s third Major champion Credit: Getty
A par at the 17th followed, and after lashing a drive 330 yards down the final fairway, Fox left his approach 11-and-a-half feet short of the flag.
The roar that erupted as it fell in told Young he could stop hitting balls on the range in readiness for a play-off.
And New Zealand had their third Major champion, with Fox following in the footsteps of 1963 Open winner Bob Charles, and 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell.
Fox beamed: “It’s unbelievable. To be honest, I still don’t know what to think.
“My nerves are all over the place. I’m not quite sure how I hit that putt on 18.
“My wife and kids are in Florida at the moment. I spoke to my kids last night and they told me to bring back a trophy. I think this is a pretty cool one to bring back for them!
“And for my family back in New Zealand, and all my supporters there, I know it’s been a long night for them. But I’m glad it was worthwhile.
“I said to my caddie on 18 we are going to try to win this here and now, and I hit two perfect shots to set up that birdie.
“Looking at this trophy now, it’s the first time I’ve seen it up close. So this is a dream come true.”
Young, who also finished runner-up at the 2022 Open, was left to curse the final hole bogey that prevented him setting a target that would have had the nerves jangling even more among his opponents.
Fox’s grandfather Merv Wallace captained the New Zealand cricket team Credit: Getty
His dad Ryan was a rugby star Credit: Colorsport
The only lapse of an incredible final round came after an over-ambitious shot from a fairway bunker on 18.
A five, after his ball flew into the rough, was a good result – but not quite good enough.
For most of the day this seemed like the Open no one wanted to win – or at least one where none of the main contenders had any clue of how to plot a path to victory.
At one stage an ever-changing leaderboard showed four players tied for the lead at nine under par – Young, Fox, a charging Si Woo Kim, and 54-hole leader Sam Burns – with Scottie Scheffler and Tommy Fleetwood just a shot back.
One by one they suffered nose bleeds from being in such a rarified atmosphere.
But not this Fox. He refused to become a blood sport victim, and emerged as a worthy champion.
Fox added: “We have a great sporting tradition in our family, and I was so glad I was allowed to carve my own path.
“I don’t know if this tops the lot – but it’s right up there. There’s no pressure on my kids going forward, is there?
“I’ve won some big events before, like Wentworth and the Dunhill Links, and if someone had offered me my career up to this week when I was starting out, I’d have jumped at it. With this now, I’d probably kill for it!”
