Fox back in the hunt after form reversal

Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox turned around a poor first round at the Australian PGA Championship on the Gold Coast to make the cut, but he is long way off leaders Marc Leishman and Adam Bland.

Fox, with super- caddy Steve Williams on his bag, carded an uncharacteristic 75 in the opening round but was eight shots better yesterday, carding six birdies and a lone bogey to shoot 67 and reach two- under par, 10 shots off the leaders.

He shares 45th place with fellow Kiwis Michael Hendry ( 72) and Mark Brown ( 73) at two- under par. The best Kiwi was Josh Geary, at four- under par after rounds of 69- 71.

Leishman, Australia’s newlycrowned golfer of the year, produced seven birdies and an eagle in a seven- under par 65 as he looked to attack the Royal Pines course at every opportunity yesterday morning.

But overnight co- leader Bland of South Australia kept pace with a second consecutive 66 to leave the pair locked in front at 12- under, three shots clear when he finished.

They were pursued by a raft of talented players, including Sergio Garcia, who was six shots back after a one- under par 71.

But superstar Adam Scott has missed the cut at the tournament for the first time since 2010 after a string of missed putts to finish his second round.

A winner in 2013 and runner- up in a play- off the following year at Royal Pines, Scott imploded on the last seven holes to shoot 74 and finish one over.

It was short of the one under needed to avoid the cut.