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Open Championship 2026: Ryan Fox grabs Open glory as Aussie fades on home stretch

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(AP PHOTO)

Lucas Herbert has come up short in his bold bid to win the Open Championship, the Australian ending up tied for sixth at Royal Birkdale as gutsy New Zealander Ryan Fox lifted the Claret Jug in dazzling style after a hugely dramatic finale. 

RELATED: Scottie Scheffler gets break of the century on wild 17th hole, comes up just short in claret jug defence

Victorian LIV golfer Herbert was hanging tough in the hunt for the crown in Sunday’s eventful denouement at the famous Lancashire links as he started the 17th hole, still requiring two birdies to match the clubhouse leader Cameron Young on nine-under.

But an untidy penultimate hole, where the 30-year-old drove into the bushes, got bunkered with his third shot and ended up with a bogey six, followed by a par at the last, ensured Herbert could only finish on six-under, four shots behind the winner.

Lucas Herbert battled hard but ultimately fell short in his bid to win the British Open. (AP PHOTO)

Up ahead, though, a dramatic finale was unfolding as Fox drove off on the 18th, tied for the lead with American Cameron Young, who had earlier given all the field a severe target of nine-under to match after a brilliant six-under 64, the best round of the entire day.

Sam Burns was also in a position to match Young’s total if he could hole his birdie putt at the last, but it slid by for the American to finish third on eight under.

But Fox, who had missed a 10 foot putt at the 17th to move into the outright lead, was rewarded for his consistently attacking play on the homeward nine and after a glorious approach to 12ft on the final hole, the popular Aucklander sank the putt for a 68 and winning total of 10-under.

It saw the popular 39-year-old, son of the great World Cup-winning All Black Grant Fox, join the great Bob Charles, back in 1963, as New Zealanders to win the Open.

World No.1 Scottie Scheffler (67) finished tied for fourth on seven under, alongside local hero Tommy Fleetwood (68), while South African Casey Jarvis (66) and Korean Si Woo Kim (72) finished alongside Herbert in fourth.

Evergreen Australian Adam Scott, at the age of 46 and in his 101st consecutive major, earned his seventh top-10 finish in an Open, with a final round 66 earning him joint-ninth position on five under.