Ryan Fox won the Open Championship. Four birdies in his last six holes at Royal Birkdale, capped by a 12-footer on the 72nd hole, got him past Cameron Young by one shot. It's the first Open win by a Kiwi since Bob Charles back in 1963, and it followed a third-round 62 that had everyone at Birkdale talking.
Fox took the long road to get here — he didn't turn pro until 25, didn't reach the DP World Tour until 30, and only picked up his PGA Tour card at 37. Here's what was in his bag when he finally got his hands on the claret jug.
One thing worth flagging before we get into it: the RKT models Fox plays in his driver, fairway wood, and utility iron are tour-only prototypes right now, not available to buy. You'll want to look at the retail ZXi line instead if you're after that same look and feel off the shelf.
Putter
Let's start with the putter, arguably the MVP of the week at Birkdale. Fox led the entire field in Strokes Gained: Putting through Saturday, and he did it with an old-school blade — not the mallet most of the tour has switched to. It's also the only club in his bag not made by Srixon or Cleveland.
Driver
Srixon ZXi RKT LS+ — 10.5° (tour-only prototype)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
New driver for Open week. Fox switched into the low-spin ZXi RKT LS+ and paired it with a new shaft too, moving from his old Mitsubishi Diamana into the Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X. It's a tour-only prototype, so you'll want to look at the retail ZXi driver instead.
Fairway Wood
Srixon ZXi RKT — 15° (tour-only prototype)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X
Retail: Srixon ZXi Fairway Wood
Another new head for the week — same low-spin ZXi RKT line, same Ventus Black shaft family as the driver. Also a tour-only prototype, with the retail ZXi fairway wood as the version you'd find in stores.
Utility Iron
Srixon ZXi5+ — 20° (tour-only prototype)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue HB 9 X
Retail: Srixon ZXi Utility Iron
The third new club Fox put in play at Birkdale. This one runs a Ventus Blue shaft instead of Black, which launches a bit higher and spins a bit less aggressively than the Black models above it. Same story here — it's a prototype, so shoppers should look at the retail ZXi utility iron instead.
Irons
Srixon ZXi5 — 4-iron
Srixon ZXi7 — 5-iron through pitching wedge
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
A combo set — the more forgiving ZXi5 in the long iron, then ZXi7 the rest of the way for extra workability. Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts throughout.
Wedges
Cleveland RTZ Tour Rack — 50°, 56°, 60°
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (50°); S400 (56° and 60°)
Three wedges, with the two shorter ones running a slightly stiffer S400 shaft.
Golf Ball
