New Zealand’s Ryan Fox won the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, keeping his cool to lift the Claret Jug after a dramatic birdie on the final hole, according to the Guardian and Sky Sports.

The victory capped a tense final round on Sunday, 19 July 2026, at the Southport links. Sky Sports headlined its round-four highlights with Fox’s “dramatic final hole birdie,” underlining how close the finish was.

The Guardian’s live coverage noted that the final few games ran late due to what it described as a “rules brouhaha” in an earlier match, adding to the drama as the leading groups made their way around the course.

Among the players featured in the Guardian’s coverage was Tommy Fleetwood, who found trouble off the tee, his ball disappearing into a thick clump of grass on a bank to the left of the fairway.

Defending champion Scottie Scheffler also made his presence felt, adding another birdie at the 5th after crashing his drive greenside, chipping to four feet and rolling in the putt to move to -7. The Guardian noted the potential for a compelling finish as wind and pressure built for the late-starting leaders.

Ultimately it was Fox who prevailed, holding his nerve down the closing stretch to become Open champion at Royal Birkdale.