Ryan Fox sends pace of play message after winning The Open

Ryan Fox insisted playing the sport quickly is "not that hard" after he produced an electric finish to win the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

Fox, 39, pipped America's Cameron Young to the Claret Jug on Sunday in Southport. 

The New Zealander produced the shot of his life on the 72nd hole and held his nerve over an 11-foot putt to break Young's heart and win by one shot. 

It saw him become the first Kiwi since Bob Charles in 1963 to win golf's oldest major. 

The manner of Fox's victory was all the more impressive given he kept a cool head and played quickly even as chaos unfolded down the stretch. 

Fox got an all-time unlucky break at the 15th when his tee shot at the short par-three came to rest at the lip of a bunker.

He splashed out quickly, chipped on an held a six-foot putt for bogey to limit the damage. 

And even as he stepped up to his putt on the 18th he was not in mind to slow down. 

"I see things fast," said Fox. "I was the same when I was playing cricket growing up. 

"I played almost every sport growing up, and tennis I wanted to hit the ball hard, and cricket I wanted to hit the ball hard. 

"Everything just happened fast. I was never methodical at anything, to be honest, and it just carried over into golf."

Fox paused. 

"I need to make sure this comes across right," he said. "It's not that difficult to pick a shot and pick a club. 

"I get in there, and it all happens quick. It's always going to be between one or two clubs into a green, and I just see the shot quickly, pick a shot quickly, and the less time I have to think about it, the less bad stuff can creep in there."

He has only ever played with one player quicker than him. 

"Renato Paratore, back in the day," said Fox. 

"He used to hit while his name was getting announced on the first tee. He's probably the only one that did it. 

"I played with Scottie Scheffler earlier in the year, and I can't work out if this was a burn or a compliment. 

"We played at [the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in] Phoenix, and we're in a three-ball on Saturday. 

"We walk off the ninth tee, and he goes, 'Foxy, it doesn't even feel like you're in the group. It just feels like we're playing in a two-ball, you hit it so fast. It's just in the air.'

"You guys can tell me if it's a burn or a compliment. 

"It is just always how I've played. I'm kinda glad I kept that routine down the stretch."