Ryan Fox of New Zealand won the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club on July 19, 2026, securing his first major title. Fox shot a final round 67 to finish at 15-under-par, one stroke ahead of American Xander Schauffele. The victory made Fox the second New Zealander to win the Open, after Sir Bob Charles in 1963.
Fox's caddie, Michael Smith, played a key role in the win. Smith, who has worked with Fox for several years, provided crucial advice on the 16th hole, where Fox made a birdie to take the lead. Fox said after the round, 'He knew exactly what I needed in that moment. I didn't have to ask.'
The win earned Fox a spot in the 2027 Masters Tournament and a five-year exemption on the PGA Tour. Fox, 39, had previously won three times on the DP World Tour but had never finished in the top 10 of a major before this week.
