Ryan Fox birdies No. 18 to cap comeback win at Open Championship

Ryan Fox emerged from the pack on the back nine at Royal Birkdale Golf Club and sank an 11 1/2-foot birdie putt at No. 18 to win the 154th Open Championship on Sunday in Southport, England.

The 39-year-old from New Zealand captured his first major title by birdieing four of the final six holes thanks to a series of terrific approach shots and clutch putts. His 2-under-par 68 put him at 10-under 270 for the championship.

Cameron Young looked on for about 2 1/2 hours after setting the clubhouse lead at 9-under 271 with a 64, the low round of the day. The No. 4 player in the world rankings will rue his only bogey of the day at the par-4 18th, where he had to punch out of a fairway bunker only to land in another bunker to the right of the green.

Sam Burns, the 54-hole leader, bogeyed three straight holes at Nos. 4-6 and followed that with 12 consecutive pars as he posted a 2-over 72 to place third at 8 under.

Fox entered the day at 8 under, two off Burns' lead, and played with him in the final pairing after a remarkable Saturday round of 62. He was 1 over for his round after 12 holes but sank a 12-footer for birdie at No. 13 and tapped in another at the par-4 15th.

He had an unlucky break off the tee at the par-3 15th, a difficult lie in a bunker that forced him to lay up and play for bogey. But he got the stroke right back at No. 16 with a 10-foot birdie roll, bringing him back level with Young before the big finish.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (67) and hometown favorite Tommy Fleetwood (68) were tied for fourth at 7 under. Fleetwood grew up in Southport, just down the road from Royal Birkdale; he was undone by three straight bogeys at Nos. 9-11, but an improbable 73-foot birdie at the first hole and closing birdies at Nos. 17-18 electrified the pro-Fleetwood crowd.

--Field Level Media