Ryan Fox's majestic masterpiece at Royal Birkdale will be etched in the annals of golfing history forever. His jaw-dropping eight-under-par 62 during Saturday's third round of The Open Championship has not only catapulted him to the top of the leaderboard but also shattered records, as he equalled the lowest round ever recorded in men's major championship history.
This was no quiet storm; Fox's round was a full-throated declaration of intent, with five birdies in his opening eight holes setting the tone for an unforgettable display. One solitary bogey on the 13th threatened to derail his momentum, but he swiftly regrouped with three consecutive birdies, positioning himself perfectly to challenge history. A tantalising opportunity to shatter the record and card a 61 beckoned, only for a wayward tee shot into a bunker on the 18th to scupper that dream. A 48-foot putt that left him agonisingly short ultimately led to tapping in for the record-equalling 62.
Reflecting on his extraordinary round, Fox revealed he didn't allow himself to dwell on the record until much later in his game. He also acknowledged the favourable conditions, stating, "We've had it as good as you can get weather-wise – the wind was down, the greens are perfect, and the ball's flying with the fairways so baked out." With a spring in his step and excitement coursing through his veins, he declared: "I'm going to have a chance to win the Open, which is pretty exciting."
Partnered alongside 2024 Open champion Xander Schauffele, Fox's daring approach paid rich dividends. The American was effusive in his praise for Fox's play, saying, "He played amazing and I was trying to hop on whatever wave he was on." Schauffele also hinted at the pin positions set by organisers, suggesting they were designed to prevent such low scores.
Royal Birkdale's place in golf history has been further solidified, as half of the eight rounds of 62 ever recorded in a major championship have now occurred on its hallowed links. Branden Grace was the trailblazer in 2017, also during the third round of The Open. While a 62 is an extraordinary feat, only Schauffele has gone on to win a major after shooting one – doing so at the 2024 US PGA Championship.