How Fox kept cool at baked Birkdale to win The Open

Here is the latest breaking news from around the world: How Fox kept cool at baked Birkdale to win The Open Figure caption, 'What a way to take it' - best of Fox's Open winning final roundByJonathan Jurejko Sport golf reporter at Royal BirkdalePublished2 hours agoThe Open Championship, final leaderboard-10 R Fox (NZ); -9 C Young (US); -8 S Burns (US)Selected: -7 S Scheffler (US), T Fleetwood (Eng); -6 L Herbert (Aus); -5 L Aberg (Swe); -4 B DeChambeau (US); -3 M Penge (Eng), J Smith (Eng), D Brown (Eng); -2 R MacIntyre (Sco), S Lowry (Ire); -1 R McIlroy (NI), M Wallace (Eng)Full leaderboardAs chaos unfolded on Sunday afternoon at the 154th Open Championship, Ryan Fox was the man who kept cool in the baking conditions at Royal Birkdale. The 39-year-old New Zealander, who is the son of All Black legend Grant, shot a two-under 68 to finish one ahead of American Cameron Young and lift the Claret Jug. After a final round full of spills and thrills, Fox knew a birdie on the 18th would be enough to secure his first major title.

Easier said than done. The long par-four had yielded only four birdies all day, but the courageous Fox did not take a step back as he chased down long-time clubhouse leader Young. Fox grabbed the driver out of the bag and launched a crackerjack of a 330-yard tee-shot into the middle of the fairway.

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With 175 yards left, he hit one of the approach shots of his career into the heart of the green. Then he calmly stepped up and converted the biggest putt of his life from 11 feet. "I didn't feel anything for the putt - everything was shaking that much," said Fox, who was a 100-1 outsider at the start of the tournament.

"It's not a very comfortable feeling. It's certainly very enjoyable when you see it go in. "Fox's fantastic finish capped a magnificently tight Open which could have gone in any direction on a chaotic and dramatic Sunday.

Fleetwood won't give up Open dream after 'special' week Published2 hours agoDeChambeau is not a cheater - Scheffler Published48 minutes agoDeChambeau at Irish Open would be great - McIlroy Published3 hours agoFour men topped the leaderboard at one point or another - Fox, Young, American overnight leader Sam Burns and South Korea's Si Woo Kim - while American world number one Scottie Scheffler and English fan favourite Tommy Fleetwood moved within touching distance. But the way which Fox saw off the competition - and played the final hole - was a microcosm of his approach to the sport. Unflustered, uncomplicated and done with a minimum of fuss.

"I did say to my caddie on the tee that we were going to take it on, that I was going to try to win the tournament, and I'd live with the consequences if I stuffed it up," said Fox, who had never previously finished in the top 10 at a major in 28 attempts. "To go out there and execute that drive, which is not a very comfortable tee shot, and to hit it in the fairway and give myself a chance was huge.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.