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Ryan Fox of New Zealand captured The Open Championship on Sunday at Royal Birkdale, sinking a birdie putt on the 18th hole to finish at 10-under par and claim the Claret Jug. Fox’s one-stroke victory over American Cameron Young and two-shot triumph ahead of 54-hole leader Sam Burns delivered another setback to American golf’s dominance in major championships.
Fox trailed clubhouse leader Young at 9-under heading into the final hole and needed a birdie on the par-4 18th to win outright. After driving into the fairway, the 39-year-old New Zealander struck an approach shot to inside 12 feet and converted the winning putt to secure his second major championship.
Young, seeking redemption after previous major championship near-misses, fired a spectacular front-nine 29 to take the lead. The American shot a final-round 64 to reach 9-under par, but Fox’s birdie on 18 left him one shot short. Burns, who held a two-shot lead entering Sunday with a 10-under score, collapsed with three consecutive bogeys at holes 4, 5, and 6 to finish one stroke behind Young.
The championship marked a continuation of American golf’s declining fortunes in major tournaments throughout 2026. Wyndham Clark’s U.S. Open victory at Shinnecock Hills now stands as the only major championship won by an American man this season, the fewest since 2014.
American golfers dominated major championships for an extended stretch, winning 10 of 11 tournaments between early 2025 and mid-2026. That dominance has evaporated dramatically. European players captured the Masters and PGA Championship earlier this year, while Tommy Fleetwood won the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup.
The decline extends beyond individual major championships. Europe routed the United States at the Ryder Cup, entering Sunday singles with an 11½-4½ advantage and ultimately winning 15-13. With the next Ryder Cup scheduled for Adare Manor in Ireland, American golf faces an uphill battle to reclaim supremacy on European soil for the first time since 1993.
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