Flawless Fox leading after opening round

Ryan Fox was surprised yesterday to find himself leading the Irish Open after the opening round, despite his impressive form this season.

Fox had eight birdies, including seven in his last 11 holes, in a flawless eight-under 64 at Mt Juliet.

The New Zealander had a one-shot lead over Frederic Lacroix, Jorge Campillo, Fabrizio Zanotti and Marcel Schneider.

Fox, who lost a playoff for the 2018 Irish Open to Scotland’s Russell Knox, won the Ras Al Khaimah Classic in February, finished runner-up in the Soudal Open and Dutch Open and was third in the BMW International on Monday.

“I’m more surprised than anything else,” the 56th-ranked Fox said. “I’ve been fighting it on the range the last couple of days and a 64 certainly didn’t look likely early in the round.

“I made a couple of birdies but I was scrapping away and hit a great wedge on my eighth hole [the 17th] and made a few putts as well.

“So it was just one of those days that shows how important patience is in a round of golf.”

Fox, who is in career-best form, says he can’t pinpoint a specific that has contributed to his recent success.

“It’s probably a multitude of things,” Fox told the Weekend Herald following his round.

“I’m really happy with the team I’ve got around me: my caddy, both coaches I’m working with, psychologist, physio, all of those.

“Everyone’s on the same page and everything’s been working really well on the golf course.

“Off the golf course, I’m just a lot happier with where things are at than what they’ve been in the last couple of years and obviously there’s a few factors that were out of my control,” Fox said.

Referring to the global Covid pandemic, he added: “There have probably been a few sportspeople over the years who have been able to perform at the highest level with whatever has been going on off the field, but that’s probably not me.”