Southport, England: New Zealander Ryan Fox has not followed a conventional path in professional golf. It was not until he was 25 that he relinquished his amateur status. He was a rookie pro on the DP World Tour at 30 and a rookie on the PGA Tour at 37. Now, at the grand old age of 39, he’s a Major champion. Story by Spencer Robinson – Asian Tour contributor.

“I’m definitely not following the trend at the moment. But if I can keep getting better a little bit every year, I’ll be pretty happy,” said the New Zealander, clutching the Claret Jug following his victory in the 154th Open Championship.

“It’s something you dream of. I used to get up in the middle of the night to watch this tournament back home. To be the Champion Golfer of the Year, it’s unbelievable, surreal, crazy. I don’t have enough words in my vocabulary to explain it,” added Fox, who holed a 12-foot birdie putt on the final green at Royal Birkdale Golf Club to claim a one-stroke win from American Cameron Young.

With a closing two-under 68, he posted a four-day aggregate of 10-under 270 over the fabled Lancashire links.

In so doing he has become just his country’s fourth Major winner, following in the footsteps of Sir Bob Charles, who triumphed at nearby Royal Lytham & St Annes in 1963, Michael Campbell, winner of the US Open in 2005, and Dame Lydia Ko, a three-time LPGA Tour Major champion.

Ryan Fox. Picture by David Cannon/Getty Images.

“To have my own little piece of history, I don’t know if it’s something I ever thought was possible. But we’re here now. I think this will be huge for New Zealand golf,” said Fox, who represented his country in the first three editions of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC).

With rounds of 77 and 79 he missed the cut in the inaugural AAC at China’s Mission Hills in 2009. The following year he was tied for 34th at Kasumigaseki Country Club, improving to joint 17th in the championship’s third iteration at Singapore Island Country Club in 2011.

His three-under total of 285 there was 12 shots behind fourth-placed Australian Cameron Smith and 15 strokes worse off than Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, the winner.

Now, Fox has joined Smith (Open Championship 2023) and Matsuyama (Masters Tournament 2022) as the third AAC alumni to win a men’s Major.

“Congratulations to Ryan. His win makes all New Zealanders proud,” said fellow-Kiwi Philip Hassall, Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation.

Victory at The Open was not even a consideration for Fox at the half-way stage of the championship when he found himself in a share of 52nd place. However, an eight-under 62 on Saturday – equalling the best ever single round score in men’s Major, saw him soar into contention before completing the turnaround on Sunday.

His victory marks the largest 36-hole comeback in men’s Major history by position.

Main picture: Ryan Fox. Picture by Getty Images.

Southport, England: Stirred by strong family support, Cameron John is proving to be one of the surprise packages at the 154th Open Championship. Report by Spencer Robinson – Asian Tour contributor.

Cheered on from outside the ropes by his wife, parents and grandparents, the Australian continued to confound the odds with a composed one-under-par 69 in round three at Royal Birkdale Golf Club.

With a three-day aggregate of four-under 206, John finds himself in a share of 11th place heading into Sunday’s final round, six shots off the pace being set by American Sam Burns.

Now the three-time winner on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia this past season is daring to dream of pulling off what would rank as one of the biggest shocks in the championship’s storied history.

Reflecting on the elevated position in which he finds himself, John, who qualified for The Open by finishing second at the Asian Tour’s Singapore Open in April, part of the Open Qualifying Series, said: “It’s kind of pinch me stuff. But I feel like over the past two years this is kind of what we’ve built my game around. I feel like I’m capable of competing at the highest level. Hopefully I’ve shown enough of that already this week … and hopefully I can do even more tomorrow.

“I feel like I’m playing great golf, and today I was hitting the ball probably better than the first two days. Score-wise, it felt like there was a couple that I let go and there was a couple that went my way. That’s golf. It doesn’t matter where you’re playing, I’m always going to give it 100 per cent, and hopefully that holds me in good stead come tomorrow.

Cameron John. Picture by Warren Little/Getty Images.

“I had big goals for the week, and I think that’s important. It’s still 18 holes of golf and focus on trying to win the tournament … or at least give myself a chance with nine holes to go.”

The least well known of the three Camerons in the starting line-up here, John has outperformed his compatriot and 2023 Open champion (Cam) Smith who missed the cut, and is one in front of American (Cam) Young, the world number four.

John is quick to attribute his outstanding Open debut performance to being surrounded by close family, most notably his wife Georgia, who is seven months pregnant with the couple’s first child.

“It’s amazing to have all my family here – my grandparents, who were with me on my first international trip and who have flown across the world to see me play; my mum and dad, who have been supporting me my entire life … and my wife, who’s an absolute trooper. I couldn’t be more thankful for having her,” said John.

John began the week in 256th place in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). A good final round here will likely see him surpass his career-best of 219th. That’s quite a leap for a man who ended 2025 languishing in 589th position in the standings before finding form in Australia and Asia.

Those who know of his background and have followed his progression through the ranks are not surprised to see him faring so well.

At the start of the week, Nick O’Hern, a top former player and now a respected golf media personality, told the Golf Australia website: “The one thing I noticed with Cam is that when he gets a sniff, he’s not afraid to go for it. And that’s such an under-rated quality and a very rare quality in a lot of the young players especially.

“You can almost see them tensing up and freezing a little when they get in contention. Whereas Cam, he almost thrives in that sort of situation. That’s really going to help him on the biggest stage. And the Majors are the biggest stage.

Cameron John. Picture by Jacob King/PA Images via Getty Images.

“Links golf is a whole different kettle of fish, but he did win down at The National and at 13th Beach so he obviously loves playing in the wind, firm, fast conditions. It’ll be exciting to see what he can do.”

As O’Hern pointed out, John is well versed in links-style conditions, a product of his golfing upbringing.

John said: “I’m a Member at Commonwealth Golf Club and I’ve been there since I was 13 years old. The course has gone through some recent renovations, but that’s probably helped because the greens have been firm for the last couple of years. Growing up in the Melbourne Sand Belt area it’s really similar (to conditions at Birkdale). It’s probably a little bit wider and more forgiving off the tee but the shots you have to hit, controlling the bounce and how far it rolls is very comparable.”

Of the three other Asian Tour members who made the cut, American Marcus Plunkett added a 71 to earlier returns of 70 and 71 and will head into the final round in a share of 64th place on two-over 212.

That’s one stroke in front of Japan’s Kazuki Higa, last year’s Order of Merit winner, and American Peter Uihlein both of whom carded 72s and are tied for 71st on three-over 213.

Main picture: Cameron John. Picture by Getty Images.

Southport, England: No wonder Lucas Herbert was filled with mixed emotions. Report by Spencer Robinson – Asian Tour contributor.

With an eight-under-par 62 in round two of the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, the Australian equalled the all-time low round in the 166-year history of men’s Major championship golf. A fabulous feat worth celebrating.

While justifiably proud of his achievement, Herbert was also left to ponder on a final-hole bogey that denied him the chance to create history with a first-ever 61 at the very highest level of the game.

“I’m absolutely disappointed (not to shoot 61), and at the same time, so proud of today,” said Herbert, whose 62 was emulated by American Sam Burns less than an hour later.

They join Branden Grace, Rickie Fowler, Xander Schauffele (twice), Shane Lowry and Kurt Kitayama as the only other players to post 62s in the history of the men’s Majors.

“That’s a really cool list to be a part of. I’m very, very proud to put my name on that list of guys that have shot 62 in a Major championship. So, it’s kind of holding two emotions there at the same time. It’s a tricky one. I’m sure once the dust settles, I’ll be able to sort of decompress it a little bit,” said Herbert, who finished the day with a two-shot half-way lead.

Lucas Herbert of Australia acknowledges the crowd on the 18th green. Picture by Warren Little/Getty Images.

As followers of the Asian Tour will be aware, this was not the first time that the 30-year-old Herbert has posted a 62 this year.

On the last day of February, Herbert soared into contention at the 105th New Zealand Open in Queenstown with a swashbuckling nine-under-par 62 on Millbrook Resort’s Composite layout in the penultimate round of the event that formed part of the Open Qualifying Series.

That effort helped him to finish runner-up and claim the second and final spot on offer at Royal Birkdale, where he’s intent on making the most of the opportunity.

Winner of the International Series Japan on the 2025 Asian Tour, Herbert opened with an even-par 70 here on Thursday.

On Friday morning he came out all guns blazing, setting off with five successive threes en route to an outward six-under 28, matching The Open record for best front nine score.

He picked up further strokes at 11 and 12 to reach eight-under.

He said: “The first 12 holes, I might not play 12 better holes in my life. That whole back nine today, it was not lost on me the amount of history in Major championships and the opportunity I had to obviously break the record, but then to tie it as well is still something I’m really proud of.

“I’m a golf nerd anyway, so I know all the numbers, all the records, everything like that.”

Cameron John. Picture by Stuart Franklin/R&A/R&A via Getty Images.

He also knows there’s the little matter of the Claret Jug at stake over the next 48 hours. Is that something he’s dreamed of, he was asked?

“Yes, I think so. It’s two worlds apart, though, to have dreams and then to have even a glimpse of it sort of come to reality. Dreams of winning The Open Championship for sure … and I’m in a great position to do that. There’s still a lot of golf to go and a lot of work to do.

“I think that’s the dream I would love to tick off more than shooting 62. Yes, I’ve got a great opportunity. I’m looking forward to getting after it on the weekend.”

On a bright day for Asian Tour members, Australian Cameron John, Japan’s Kazuki Higa and Americans Peter Uihlein and Marcus Plunkett all made it through to the weekend.

John, who is playing this week by virtue of finishing second in the Singapore Open – an Open Qualifying Series event – excelled, carding a 67 and is three under – in a tie for 17th. Reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Higa and Uihlein shot 68s while Plunkett a 71. All three finished one over – right on the cut line.

Main picture: Lucas Herbert shakes hands with his caddie Nick Pugh on the 18th green after his 62. Picture by Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images.

Southport, England: There’s clearly something about Lancashire links courses and the northwest of England that agrees with Tom Kim. Report by Spencer Robinson – Asian Tour contributor.

It was three years ago that the Korean caused a major stir when he placed runner-up to American Brian Harman at Royal Liverpool in what was only his second Open Championship appearance.

This week, the former Asian Tour Order of Merit winner is aiming to go one better at Royal Birkdale, a course that is less than 30 miles north of the venue at which he made his first run at a Major title in 2023.

On the opening-day of the 154th edition of golf’s original championship, Kim found himself on the wrong side of the draw, a 1.31 pm start time meaning he was among those who experienced the most challenging of the conditions with the winds whipping up in the afternoon.

Undaunted, 24-year-old Kim buckled down to the task at hand and had every reason to be contented with an even-par 70. American Jackson Suber holds the lead following a 65.

“I did well. It’s a Major championship, so the golf course is going to be tough. Obviously, the wind in the afternoon is blowing. I felt like I did a pretty good job, low stress. Just a few more birdies would have been nice, but overall, it’s a decent start,” assessed the man who emerged from a dip in form that saw him miss the first two Majors of 2026 by claiming a tie for third in last month’s US Open at Shinnecock Hills.

His resurgence continued last week when he captured his fourth PGA Tour title, topping the leaderboard at the Genesis Scottish Open.

No wonder there’s been an unmistakable spring in his step since setting foot on Royal Birkdale.

There’s also been a sense that we’re seeing a calmer, more measured version of Kim. He does not disagree.

“Yes, I do believe I have matured a lot in the last few years, the way I approach the game, the way I go about my business on the golf course. It is very different,” said Kim, who acknowledges that his Asian Tour triumphs at the Panasonic Open India in 2019 and the Singapore International in 2022 were important catalysts in his rapid development.

Promisingly, he also accepts that further improvement is required if he’s to write his name into golfing folklore this week by becoming just the second Korean male Major champion (after YE Yang) and the first Asian to raise aloft the Claret Jug and be crowned Champion Golfer of the Year.

Summing up his day one performance over the Birkdale links, he said: “Today was just a quiet round – two birdies, two bogeys. But I do have to do a better job of trying to figure out how I can get these days a little better.”

Main Picture: Tom Kim (Getty Images).