Fox Claims Open Title Amidst Dramatic Finale

What a way to enhance a family dynasty. Ryan Fox, son of a New Zealand rugby legend and grandson of one of the country’s cricket captains, is the Open champion. Three generations, three sports, one Claret Jug. Fox displayed the fortitude of Grant, his old man, to snatch victory from Cameron Young on such a dramatic Open Championship Sunday. Fox took to the 18th tee level with Young at nine under par. The American had finished more than two hours earlier, his total looking ever more promising as others took it in turn to wilt under the heat of Royal Birkdale. Fox laughed in the face of adversity. He crashed a drive 330 yards down the fairway, flicked an iron to 11ft and holed out for a birdie three. This will trigger quite the party, including in his homeland. This Open needed something to switch the conversation from Bryson DeChambeau and a rules breach. In Fox, the tournament found a bold and deserving champion.

For Young, there will be pain. A par at the last would have earned him 10 under par and, as it was to transpire, a playoff. He found the bunker from the 18th tee. A six-iron, intended to reach the front of the green, rebounded from the top of the trap and into thick grass. Young, who is becoming a major nearly man, scrambled superbly for a bogey five. It was not enough, alas.

On a week dominated by sunburn and grass burn, some believed it was fate that Sam Burns would triumph. Instead, the 54-hole leader wobbled after reaching 11 under inside two holes. He regressed to minus eight at the turn, where he was to stay. It was Fox who was to deal best with golf’s version of scorched earth syndrome.

The leaving of a bunker shot by the 18th green in sand rather summed up Rory McIlroy’s Open. The Masters champion signed off with a 71 for a one-under total. McIlroy will now take a holiday before returning to competitive action in the PGA Tour’s playoffs. He was asked rather mischievously whether he would welcome DeChambeau at the Irish Open this year, as has been rumoured as a possibility. The event takes place at Donald Trump’s Doonbeg resort. “I think that would be great for the tournament, absolutely,” McIlroy said. “Having someone like Bryson at the Irish Open, it would be great for the tournament.”

McIlroy’s scathing sentiment towards DeChambeau had been the theme of Saturday at the Open. Day four proved just as eye-catching. Inside the ropes, this time.

Source: The Guardian