How fast Fox trumped divisive DeChambeau to win Open

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. This video can not be played Figure caption, 'What a way to take it' - best of Fox's Open winning final round By Iain Carter Golf correspondent at Royal Birkdale Published 20 July 2026, 11:12 BST Updated 1 hour ago Commentating on the thrilling climax of this year's Open, there was barely a moment to describe the biggest putt of Ryan Fox's life because he struck it so quickly. There were only 22 seconds between Sam Burns completing his final round and Fox stroking home the 11-footer on Royal Birkdale's 18th green. The putt made him champion golfer of the year. It provided a magnificent and wholesome climax to the 154th Open, a dramatic championship marked by class and controversy. Bryson DeChambeau's two-shot penalty for trampling rough that improved the line of his swing path last Friday will not be forgotten. It was another incident that illustrated why he has become golf's most divisive figure. But something else that should live long in the memory is Fox's fantastic triumph, a victory for a late developer who plays the game at a wonderful pace. "He proved you can win The Open without all the faffing about," was a succinct assessment by our 5 Live editor on site, and it is hard to disagree. How Fox kept cool at baked Birkdale to win The Open Published 17 hours ago DeChambeau is not a cheater - Scheffler Published 15 hours ago Fleetwood won't give up Open dream after 'special' week Published 17 hours ago It was a joy to walk all 18 holes of Sunday's final round with Fox and the time-efficient Burns playing at such a brisk pace. "See shot, hit shot. That's always been my philosophy," Fox told BBC Sport while clutching the Claret Jug. Of course, the new champion is exceptional and it would be wholly unrealistic to expect other players to compete at his pace. But there are plenty of slowcoaches for whom the prescribed 40 seconds (50 if you are first to play) allowed for hitting is often ignored. The game could do with them trying harder to get closer to Fox's example. "I played with Scottie Scheffler earlier in the year," said Fox. "At Phoenix, and we're in a three-ball on the Saturday. "We walk off the ninth tee, and he goes, Foxy, it doesn't even feel like you're in the group. It just feels like we're playing in a two-ball, you hit it so fast." Fox contends it is not difficult for him to play efficiently. "I just see the shot quickly," he said. "Pick a shot quickly, and the less time I have to think about it, the less bad stuff can creep in there." Potentially damaging doubts were held at bay in weekend rounds of 62 and 68 capped by the quick-fire putt that sealed the championship. It was the first time since Tom Watson in 1977 that a 72nd green birdie had secured golf's oldest and grandest title by a single shot. This was quite the moment to elevate the sun-kissed event above the DeChambeau controversy which had threatened to overshadow the week. To play this video you need to en