Ryan Fox secured the British Open title at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, a victory that highlights his distinctive fast-paced style of play. This win represents a significant achievement in his career, which has seen a gradual progression through various tours.
Fox’s caddie, Dean Smith, described him as “probably the fastest player in the world.” This characteristic, which Fox attributes to his natural inclination to make quick decisions, sets him apart in professional golf where longer rounds are common. Fox believes that less time spent thinking prevents negative thoughts from influencing his game.
A Unique Approach to Golf
Fox’s speed was particularly evident during the final moments of the tournament. After Sam Burns completed his putt on the 18th hole, Fox took only 22 seconds to strike his own 11-foot birdie putt, which ultimately secured his win. This rapid execution meant that the moment was decided before many, including Fox himself, could fully process the gravity of the situation.
His approach to the game is a contrast to modern sports psychology, which often advocates for slowing down. Fox, however, has maintained his quick pace since his youth, when he played cricket and tennis. He noted that he has never been methodical in his approach to sports.
The course at Royal Birkdale presented a challenge with many shot options, which can lead to uncertainty for some players. Fox’s strategy of quickly selecting a shot and a club proved effective in navigating these conditions, minimizing the opportunity for doubt to creep in.
Road to the Championship
Fox’s journey to becoming a major champion has been described as a “slow burn.” He did not begin playing golf competitively until he was 17 years old and turned professional in his mid-20s. He became a DP World Tour rookie at age 30 and a PGA TOUR rookie at age 37. His first professional win occurred last year, followed by another victory a few weeks later.
His win at the British Open makes him a major champion at age 39. Only two other major champions in the past decade, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, were older when they achieved their major wins. Another notable older first-time major champion was Henrik Stenson, who was 40 when he won at Royal Troon in 2016.
Before this victory, Fox’s best finish in 28 majors was a tie for 16th. He had previously secured three wins on the PGA Tour of Australasia, three on the European Tour, including the BMW PGA Championship, and two PGA Tour wins last year, one of which was a playoff victory against Sam Burns at the Canadian Open.
A Resilient Final Round
The final round of the British Open saw Fox display significant resilience. He was among four players who held at least a share of the lead at various points, with Scottie Scheffler and Tommy Fleetwood also in contention. Competitors gradually fell away until Cameron Young became the primary target.
Young had posted a round of 64 earlier in the day, which remained the best score for a significant period. Fox, however, made birdie on four of his last six holes, culminating in a 2-under 68. A crucial moment came on the par-3 15th, where his tee shot landed near a bunker lip. He managed to blast out and then pitch to 6 feet, making a bogey putt that he felt carried more momentum than a routine par.
Approaching the 18th tee, Fox needed a birdie to win outright or a par to force a playoff. He chose to play aggressively, telling his caddie, Dean Smith, that he intended to “take it on.” He opted for a driver instead of an iron, quickly sending the ball down the fairway. His subsequent 9-iron shot landed five yards in front of the hole, rolling out a few feet, setting up the winning birdie.
Min Woo Lee, who was present to congratulate Fox, noted that Fox “just plays his own game, and that’s something that I think everyone can learn off.” Fox has received comments from other players regarding his speed. During the WM Phoenix Open, Scottie Scheffler remarked that playing with Fox felt like a two-ball due to his quick pace. Fox’s victory at the British Open confirms the effectiveness of his unique playing style.
The win at Royal Birkdale means Fox joins Ian Baker-Finch as the only two Open champions from Down Under to win at this course, with Baker-Finch having won in 1991.
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Source: pgatour.com
