Who is Ryan Fox? Meet the New Zealand golfer who shot historic 62 at The Open

2 hours ago 1

Ryan Fox began the third round of the 2026 Open Championship simply hoping to move up the leaderboard. By the time he walked off Royal Birkdale, the New Zealand golfer was sitting in the lead after matching the lowest round ever recorded in a men’s major championship.

Fox fired an 8-under 62 on Saturday, moving from even par to 8 under for the tournament. That put him atop the leaderboard when he finished his round, completing a remarkable turnaround after he made the 36-hole cut directly on the even-par number. It was the type of round that can change an entire tournament. It also introduced Fox to golf fans who may not be familiar with the 39-year-old, even though he has won around the world and emerged as a proven PGA Tour contender.

Here is everything to know about Fox following his historic performance at The Open.

Ryan Fox ties major championship scoring record

Fox entered Saturday eight shots behind the lead after opening the championship with rounds of 72 and 68. He needed the second-round 68 just to reach even par and secure a weekend tee time. He took advantage of that opportunity almost immediately.

Fox made birdies on Nos. 2, 3, 5, 6 and 8 to race through the front nine in 29. He added another birdie at No. 10 before suffering his only bogey of the round at the par-4 13th.

Instead of allowing that mistake to slow him down, Fox responded with birdies on Nos. 14, 16 and 17. He then made par at the 18th to complete a 62, moving to 8 under overall and into the outright lead as he entered the clubhouse.

Fox recorded nine birdies and only one bogey during the round. The 62 matched the lowest score in men’s major championship history. It also represented a 10-shot improvement over his opening-round 72.

Who is Ryan Fox?

Fox is a professional golfer from Auckland, New Zealand. He was born Jan. 22, 1987, and turned professional in 2012. He currently competes on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour after previously playing on the PGA Tour of Australasia and Challenge Tour. Fox has collected 19 professional victories during his career, including two wins on the PGA Tour and four on the DP World Tour.

His career began gaining international momentum when he won the 2015 Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge in France. He finished fourth in the Challenge Tour’s 2016 Order of Merit, earning his place on the European Tour for the following season. Fox claimed his first European Tour victory at the 2019 ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth. He broke through again during a tremendous 2022 season, winning the Ras Al Khaimah Classic and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Fox recorded 10 top-10 finishes that season and finished second behind Rory McIlroy in the DP World Tour rankings. His performance earned him the Seve Ballesteros Award as the tour’s player of the year. He added another significant title in 2023 when he won the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth by one stroke over Tyrrell Hatton and Aaron Rai.

Ryan Fox’s PGA Tour wins

Fox secured his first PGA Tour victory at the 2025 Myrtle Beach Classic. His breakthrough came in dramatic fashion. Fox chipped in for birdie from more than 50 feet on the first playoff hole to defeat Mackenzie Hughes and Harry Higgs.

Only four weeks later, he won the RBC Canadian Open. Fox defeated Sam Burns with a birdie on the fourth playoff hole, giving him two PGA Tour victories in a five-week stretch. Fox entered The Open with a strong recent record in major championships. He tied for 19th at the 2025 U.S. Open and finished tied for 23rd at the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills.

His best previous finish at The Open was a tie for 16th in 2019. He now has an opportunity to shatter that personal mark and potentially become a major champion.

MORE: Donald Trump urged to intervene after Bryson DeChambeau’s controversial Open penalty

Ryan Fox’s famous sporting family

Athletic success runs throughout Fox’s family. He is the son of Grant Fox, one of the most accomplished rugby players in New Zealand history. Grant played fly-half for the All Blacks and helped New Zealand win the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987.

Ryan’s grandfather, Merv Wallace, was also an accomplished athlete. Wallace represented New Zealand in international cricket and later served as the national team’s coach. Fox married Anneke Ryff in March 2019. The couple has two daughters and splits its time between Auckland and London.

Now Fox is pursuing the biggest achievement of his own sporting career. After barely surviving the cut, his historic 62 sent him to the top of The Open leaderboard and placed him firmly in contention entering the final round.