[Photo: Sean M. Haffey]
Cameron Young finished more than two hours ahead of the final group at nine-under par. “I don’t think I’ll be playing any more golf today,” Young told NBC, seemingly acknowledging the slim chance his score would hold up. Unfortunately for Young, Ryan Fox made that prediction prove true. Fox stuffed his approach at the last and rolled in the winning birdie putt to capture the Open Championship in thrilling fashion.
RELATED: Watch Ryan Fox’s incredibly clutch winning birdie putt
Fox putted like a demon all day with 11 one-putts in all Sunday, the last from 11 feet, 7 inches. Fox’s putter is the 2023 Ping Anser 21D, not an uncommon model, but one with unique specs.
The putter has a 40-inch KBS C-Taper 130 Black PVD 8-iron shaft instead of a standard putter shaft. The loft is almost double the norm at 6.5 degrees to accommodate his significant forward press and the grip is a 17-inch SuperStroke S 1.0P. In all, Fox produced 21 birdies, tops in the field.
Of course, the putt on 18 wouldn’t have been possible without a stellar approach from 179 yards. That shot was struck with a Srixon ZXi7 8-iron (like the 7-iron pictured). The short irons in the ZXi7 have deeper grooves spaced more closely together to produce extra spin on approach shots.
Afterwards, Fox spoke of how he spoke with his kids (who were home in Florida) the night before and they implored him to “bring back a trophy.” With four birdies in his final six holes, he did just that – and proved Young prophetic.
What Ryan Fox had in the bag at the 2026 Open Championship
Ball: Srixon Z-Star XV Arrow
Driver: Srixon ZXi RKT LS+ (Fujikura Ventus Black 7 TX), 10.5 degrees
3-wood: Srixon ZXi RKT, 15 degrees
Irons (3): Srixon ZXi5+; (4); Srixon ZXi5; (5-PW): Srixon ZXi7
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50, 56, 60 degrees)
Putter: Ping Anser 2D
