Ben Croucher

Ryan Fox shot an eight‑under‑par 62 in the third round of The Open at Royal Birkdale, matching the men’s major scoring record and joining Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns, who posted the same score the previous day. Fox led the clubhouse on eight under after a round featuring strong early scoring and a steady finish under favourable morning conditions. Players and officials noted the course’s firm, fast conditions, with varying difficulty depending on wind and tee times. Course architect Tom McKenzie highlighted design changes aimed at strategic play rather than penal setups, while players described a mix of scoring opportunities and challenges across the weather‑affected layout.