Kiwi golfer down the field at halfway stage of US Open
New Zealander Ryan Fox hits an approach shot on the 11th hole during the second round of the 125th US Open, at Oakmont Country Club on Friday 13 June, in Pennsylvania.
Photo:
ROSS KINNAIRD
New Zealand golfer Ryan Fox has endured an up-and-down day, at the second round of the US Open, at Oakmont in Pennsylvania.
Fox
won the Canadian Open on 9 June
, his second PGA title after winning his first just over a month ago,
on 11 May
at the Myrtle Beach Classic] in South Carolina.
At Oakmont, starting on the back nine, six shots off the lead, Fox started superbly with a birdie at the par four tenth, but quickly gave the advantage back, by dropping a shot at the 11th.
Two more birdies were to follow as he completed his first nine holes, at the par-three 13th and the par-four 15th, but these were countered by bogeys the 14th and 18th.
The front nine proved tougher for Fox, as wasn't able to secure any birdies.
Bogeys at the first, second and sixth holes saw him finish with a three over 75, and dropped him back to five-over for the tournament.
But with the projected cut line at seven over, Fox is looking good for weekend play at Oakmont.
Meantime, Frenchman Victor Perez has carded the first hole-in-one at this year's tournament, aceing the par-3 sixth.
Perez's ace was the first in a US Open at the Oakmont Country Club since Scott Simpson accomplished the feat in 1983 during the first round at the par-3 16th hole.
Victor Perez of France plays his shot from the third tee during the second round of the 125th US Open, at Oakmont Country Club on Friday, in Pennsylvania.
Photo:
GREGORY SHAMUS
Taking aim at the 192-yard hole, Perez used his seven-iron to fire a shot that landed approximately 15 feet (4.5m) short of the cup. The ball bounced three times on the green before curling into the hole.
Perez, 32, raised his arms in the air and chest-bumped his caddie James Erkenbeck.
The ace was the first on the PGA Tour for Perez and the 54th in US Open history.
Perez, ranked 99th in the world and a three-time winner on the DP World Tour, shot even-par 70 for the second round and resides at 1-over for the tournament.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter
curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
7 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Fox struggles as Scott turns back the clock at US Open
Sam Burns moved closer to a major breakthrough as he held a one-shot lead over Australian Adam Scott, who turned back the clock to enter the mix, and J.J. Spaun after the third round of the US Open on Saturday at Oakmont Country Club. Burns looked plenty comfortable as he made his way around the treacherous Oakmont layout, never panicking when he got into trouble, and carded a one-under-par 69 that brought him to four under on the week. Scott, the 2013 Masters champion who is playing his 96th consecutive major, missed several birdie putts but converted three on the back nine for 67, equalling the low round of the day and will play in Sunday's final pairing with Burns. Spaun, who began the day one shot back of playing partner Burns, had a share of the lead late but bogeyed the par-four 18th where he put his second shot in a bunker and was unable to convert a 21-foot par putt. World number 14 Viktor Hovland (70) was alone in fourth place and three shots off the pace. Hovland birdied the penultimate hole after a stunning chip from the thick rough that settled inside three feet, but gave it right back at the last, where he made bogey after another errant tee shot. Meanwhile, the third round was another challenging day for Kiwi Ryan Fox. He shot a three-over 73 for the second straight day, which leaves him at eight over for the tournament. It didn't take long for the renowned Oakmont Country Club to bite Fox, with a double bogey at the third, following pars at the first two holes. The Canadian Open winner then showed a glimpse of his talent, with birdies at four, five and six, to get back to four over. His tee shot on the par-three sixth, in particular, was exceptional, as he hit the ball to within a foot of the hole, but that was as good as it got for Fox, as he dropped a shot on the seventh and then posted a second double bogey of the round at the par-four ninth hole. He steadied on the back nine, dropping just the one shot, when he bogeyed the 15th hole. LIV Golf's Carlos Ortiz was enjoying a rather stress-free trip around the notoriously treacherous Oakmont layout until a closing bogey but still signed for a 67 that left him at even par on the week and alone in fifth place. Fellow LIV player Tyrell Hatton (68) was a further shot back in sixth place with South African Thriston Lawrence (70). Pre-tournament favourite Scottie Scheffler was unable to make a big move as he mixed four bogeys with four birdies for an even-par 70 that left him at four over. "I felt like I had a hard time getting momentum," said Scheffler. "I made a few silly mistakes out there, a couple three-putts, which is just a killer." Rory McIlroy, trying to shake off a Masters hangover since completing the career Grand Slam at Augusta in April, started the day nine shots off the lead and carded a four-over-par 74 that left him at 10 over. "The name of the game this week is staying patient and try to do a good job of it out there, but it's one of those golf courses that you can lose patience on pretty quickly," McIlroy said. "I was hoping to play better but I didn't."
RNZ News
8 hours ago
- RNZ News
Kiwi Steven Adams reportedly re-signs with Houston Rockets
[rnz_sport] Steven Adams logged the least minutes of his 11-year career in his first season with Houston. Photo: AFP Kiwi NBA star Steven Adams is poised to extend his stay at Houston Rockets, with a reported three-year, US$39 million (NZ$65m) deal. Adams, 31, has just completed his first season with the youthful Rockets - his 11th season in the league - helping them to the Western Conference playoffs. Backing up Turkish centre Alperen Sengun, he was often used in tandem with his protégé in a 'twin towers' line-up that troubled Golden State Warriors in their first round series. Adams missed all of the 2023/24 season, after undergoing knee surgery with Memphis Grizzlies. During his recovery, he was traded to the Rockets in exchange for guard Victor Oladipo and three future second-round picks. He averaged 3.9 points and 5.6 rebounds, while logging just 13.7 minutes per game - the least of his career. His reported extension with Houston will remain unofficial until the July free agency deadline. Adams' future was the subject of considerable speculation, with rumours also connecting him with a possible move to Los Angeles Lakers to play alongside superstar LeBron James. Perennially regarded as one of the toughest players in the NBA, he finished second in Teammate of the Year voting last season, behind Warriors star Steph Curry, while also consolidating his reputation as one of the competition's leading offensive rebounders. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
9 hours ago
- NZ Herald
US Open golf: Ryan Fox cards three-over third round at Oakmont Country Club
After confirming his place in the championship rounds at the US Open, Ryan Fox had the same thing to say about Oakmont Country Club as several of his competitors. 'Oakmont is hard,' he posted on social media. And playing in the weekend rounds at a major for his
