The Champion Golfer of the Year gets his name etched into the history books but there are plenty more benefits to winning The Open as well.
In this day and age, winners of any pro events, but especially Majors, walk away with no shortage of exemptions and prize money.
So without further ado, we list some of the perks the 2026 Open champion Ryan Fox gets for winning at Royal Birkdale...
1. Claret Jug
First thing to mention is undoubtedly the prestige of winning the oldest Major Championship in golf. That in itself, and the name being etched into history, is a perk.
Fox becomes the fourth New Zealand golfer to win a Major after Bob Charles, Michael Campbell and Lydia Ko.
Adding to that is arguably the best trophy in the sport too, the Claret Jug, which was first awarded in 1873.
He gets to keep it for an entire year before handing it back during the 2027 Open at St Andrews. Once the original has been returned in 12 months' time, he'll be given a replica to keep forever.
2. Gold Medal
The Open originally gave a Challenge Belt to its winner, but this was permanently given to Young Tom Morris after he won three consecutive tournaments.
It was replaced by the Gold Medal from 1872, which winners still receive.
The gold medal gets engraved with the course, champion's name and number of strokes Fox took en route to victory.
As well as the Olympics, the US Open and Masters also give their champions gold medals.
3. Title of 'Champion Golfer of the Year'
When you win the other three Majors, you also become a Major champion but you don't get your name announced as Champion Golfer of the Year like you do when you go to pick up the Claret Jug.
Ryan Fox will now forever be known as the 2026 Champion Golfer of the Year.
“Champion Golfer of the Year is such a cool title,” Jordan Spieth told the R&A.
“When those words were spoken on the green at Birkdale, it just kind of hit me.
“It was almost like someone had kind of punched me in the gut – in the best way possible. You need to realise how special this is and embrace what it means.”
4. Prize Money
The Open prize money payout has slightly increased this year but it is actually comfortably the lowest of all four men's Majors.
There is a $17.75m purse up for grabs, with the champion winning $3.2m - although we estimate they'll actually take home closer to $1m.
That $3.2m total is up from $3.1m last year, and it will be Fox's highest-ever career payday.
There are many larger prize money wins in the modern game today, with The Masters ($4.5m), PGA Championship ($3.69m) and US Open ($4.5m) all offering significantly more. PGA Tour Signature Events give $3.6m or $4m to their winners, while the Players Championship gives $4.5m. LIV Golf wins offer up $4m as well.
5. Open until 55
As Champion Golfer of the Year, you are guaranteed entry to all future Open Championships until the age of 55. This means Fox is now exempt into every Open until 2052.
6. Major exemptions
Like the other Majors, an Open win gives five-year exemptions to The Masters, PGA Championship, US Open and Players Championship - so that is a guarantee of 20 Major starts for Fox over the next five years as well as a tee time at TPC Sawgrass for five years, too.
7. PGA Tour card
An Open Championship victory, as with the other Majors, offers up a five-year PGA Tour card. That's some job security.
8. Senior golf
Lifting the Claret Jug also ensures an automatic invitation to three of the five senior Majors once you turn 50, with a one-year invitation to the US Senior Open and a lifetime invitation into both the Senior PGA Championship and Senior Open.
9. Champions Corner
Fox will no longer have to change his shoes with the majority of the field next year at St Andrews, for he will gain access to the champions-only Champions Corner in the locker room.
It's a special spot to remind you of your glory last year, where only you, your fellow Open champions and the reigning Amateur Champion have access.
10. Ranking points
The Open offers up the maximum 100 Official World Golf Ranking points to the winner.
All Major championships offer up 100 OWGR points to the champion, which is a huge total that ensures a big bump up the list.
Fox is set to get a huge bump up the list from his current position of 56th.
11. FedEx Cup points
An Open win means a huge haul of FedEx Cup points, too, with the maximum regular-season allowance of 750 points being awarded.
This is the same as the other three Majors as well as the Players Championship. Signature Events offer 700, regular events offer 500 but nothing compares to the 2,000 points that go to the first two Playoff tournament winners.
What does the runner-up get at The Open?
While the Open runner-up cameron Young misses out on the above perks, he does get the Silver Salver trophy as well as $1.842m in prize money.
The top-10-and-ties make it into next year's Open so a runner-up guarantees his spot for the 155th Open to have another crack at winning the Claret Jug.
He also qualifies for the 2027 Masters as a top-four finisher, albeit Young was already qualified for next year's Majors.
