Ryan Fox became the third man in 24 hours at Royal Birkdale to equal the lowest round in a men's major, shooting a 62 to book his place in the last group for Sunday's Open final round. The New Zealander capitalised on the best of the conditions when he teed off at 10.30am and posted the eight-under clubhouse lead, which was only surpassed by American Sam Burns in the third-last group of the day.
Burns, a five-time winner on the PGA Tour, finished second at last month's US Open and tied seventh at the Masters, and has finally transformed that form to links golf with a round of 65 to get to 10 under, having become the second man this week to shoot 62 the day before. It was an impressive performance after teeing off at 3.30pm amid the Bryson DeChambeau circus following his compatriot's two-shot penalty controversy on Friday night, and Burns out-scored his playing partner by six.
“Ryan Fox shot a 62 to equal the major record, but Sam Burns leads the Open at 10 under.”
“It’s obviously a difficult golf course and it’s still a work in progress, (I’m) trying to execute and accept whatever happens,” said Burns, who only decided to travel on Friday after wife Caroline gave birth early to their second child, Belle, a fortnight ago. “All I can do tomorrow is go out and play my best and see where it puts me. Whatever happens tomorrow it doesn’t define who I am.”
DeChambeau, roared on by an encouraging crowd, could advance his total by only one to sit six under but still in contention. He arrived on the first tee to a rapturous welcome and gave a thumbs-up to all sides of the horseshoe-shaped grandstand, but bogeyed the second after missing the green and reclaimed the shot at the sixth to turn.
By the time that group had finished just before 8pm, Fox was comfortably ensconced at home after the round of his life. “Being picky, I’d want a couple of drives back today maybe, but outside of that, I feel like I didn’t really miss a shot. I would have taken 62 on a Saturday, that’s for sure,” said Fox, who played alongside Xander Schauffele, the only man to post two 62s in majors.
After two record-equalling 62s on Friday, the R&A tried to protect the course – running fast with no wind and relatively defenceless – with their pin positions. “I kind of said to him (Schauffele) the R&A have got it in for us after the two 62s yesterday. Then I go and do it today,” Fox added. “I think they’re going to find a few slopes and put them on top of bunkers tomorrow for us.” With Burns holding a two-shot lead over Fox and DeChambeau lurking, the final round promises drama as Fox seeks his first major title and Burns aims to convert his recent strong form into an Open victory.