Ryan Fox has made another strong start on the PGA Tour, sitting in a share of sixth place after the opening round of the $34m Arnold Palmer Invitational in Bay Hill, Florida.
One of the early groups on the course, Fox was even par through 12 holes before four straightbirdies, kicked off by a superb approach at the par four 13th from 119m out, which almost rolled in – leading to a tap-in three.
At the par three 14th, another fine approach left him a 3m putt for birdie, which he sank. That was followed by an impressive near 8m putt at the par four 15th to make it three birdies in a row.
But Fox wasn’t done with the birdie blitz. At the par five 16th, he was forced to lay up after his drive found the rough, leaving 100m to the pin. Fox again nearly holed out with the tap-in, moving him to four-under. He eventually carded a 68 to sit in a share of third place early on before slipping down the leaderboard.
American Daniel Berger leads by three shots after opening with a nine-under 63, with two-time major winner Collin Morikawa and Ryder Cup winner Ludvig Aberg sharing second at six-under.
Jhonattan Vegas and Cameron Young are a shot ahead of Fox after shooting 67s. Xander Schauffele and Aussie Adam Scott were tied with Fox while his playing partner Billy Horschel, is a shot back from the Kiwi after carding a 69.
Of other notable names, world No 1 Scottie Scheffler opened with a two-under 70 while Rory McIlroy finished even par.
Nico Echavarria, who won last week’s Cognizant Classic had a wild round, after sitting six-under through nine he went bogey, bogey, triple bogey before carding an even-par 72.
