Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox has made a steady start to his fourth Open Championship at St Andrews on Friday (NZ time).
Fox fired a one-under par 71 in his opening round to sit in a share of 35th, seven shots behind leader Cameron Young of the US.
The 35-year-old likely won't threaten the leading group, which also includes Rory McIlroy at six-under and Australian Cameron Smith at five-under, but will have his sights set on a top-20 finish at the prestigious Major in Scotland.
The Aucklander carded two of his three birdies through the back nine, helping him recover from bogeys on the fourth and 10th.
Fox has been career-best form through 2022, with seven top-10 finishes through his last 10 tournaments to see him climb to No. 46 in the world rankings. His previous best finish at a Major was 16th at the US Open in 2019.
American Young made his first round at a memorable one, carding an eight-under 64 to hold the clubhouse lead, two clear of Claret Jug favourite McIlroy, as the 'Home of Golf' rolled out the welcome mat.
There had been worries in the run up to the season's final major that calm winds and firm, fast conditions would leave the venerable Old Course vulnerable to low scoring and that's exactly what happened as the world's best golfers attacked the defenceless layout.
But as the last groupings were finishing their rounds on a grinding first day on the Scottish links, it was clear not everyone was feeling at home.
Tiger Woods, twice a winner at St. Andrews, laboured to six-over with five to play. The 15-time major winner, who was made an honorary member of the Royal and Ancient on Thursday, sat near the bottom of the leaderboard on the course he calls his all-time favourite.
Still chasing a maiden PGA Tour title, Young showed the "Grand Old Lady" no respect as he challenged the major championship record score of 62 set by Branden Grace at Royal Birkdale in 2017, returning a clean card sprinkled with eight birdies.
With two titles this season and top-10 finishes in all three majors including a runner-up result at the Masters, McIlroy arrived in St Andrews as the man to beat and a six-under 66 will have done nothing to convince anyone to switch their bets.
The Northern Irishman got his day off to a flying start, rolling in a 55-footer for birdie at the first.
He continued to build momentum by stringing together three straight birdies from the fifth before heading into turn, where he picked up three more and his only bogey of the day.
"Fantastic start," gushed the four-time major winner. "Just sort of what you hope will happen when you're starting off your week.
"I did everything that you're supposed to do around St Andrews.
"I birdied the holes that are birdieable. I made pars at the holes where you're sort of looking to make a par and didn't really put myself out of position too much."
Young, who last month had held a share of the first-round lead at the Memorial Tournament before finishing in a tie for 60th, will not feel like he has much breathing room with challengers lining up behind him.
Smith, winner of golf's unofficial fifth Major the Players Championship, was in the clubhouse with a 67 and sits just three back.
Lurking four off the pace on 68 is a pack headlined by Masters champion and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Major winner Dustin Johnson, Norwegian young gun Viktor Hovland and British amateur Barclay Brown.
Reuters/Newshub.
