Ryan Fox chasing third title in 2022
Ryan Fox – file photo courtesy of PGA of Australia
New Zealand’s Ryan Fox is well positioned for a third DP World Tour title, finding himself just one off the 36 hole lead held by England’s Dale Whitnell at the Mallorca Open in Palma, Mallorca.
Fox is currently in third place on the DP World Tour rankings behind only Rory McIlroy and Matthew Fitzpatrick and a win or high finish here would move him past Fitzpatrick in what has been a standout year for the 35 year old.
Working in Fox’s favour is that he is the only player (25th) inside the top 100 in the world who has made it to the weekend in the US$2 million event.
Fox’s round on day two was highlighted by a holed approach from 108 yards for eagle at what was his 12th hole but he was also bogey free adding five birdies as well for his round of 64.
“Felt pretty good yesterday actually. I left a lot of chances out there yesterday – three under was probably the worst score I could have had.
“I carried that on to today and holed a few more putts. To be honest I felt like I left a few out there on the greens as well, even though I holed a couple I felt like I had a lot of chances. And certainly nice to do that around here because it can come and bite you pretty quickly as well.
“There’s a lot of wedges if you drive it in play. So I think hitting it straight is important and obviously the par fives, especially for me, if I get it in play on the par fives I feel like there’s some birdie chances there.
“I had a great number on the third, I had 100 metres on the nose, a little bit downwind. The ball’s going a long way this week so it was just a full lob wedge and obviously it looked pretty good.
“I didn’t see it go in, it was sort of hidden by that bunker, but knew it was going to be pretty good in the air and it got a nice little cheer behind the green, which was nice. It was a nice little bonus on the scorecard there. I think it’s the second shot I’ve holed this year so it was nice to get one.”
Queensland’s Scott Hend was the next best of the Australasians when he finished the opening 36 holes in a share of 36th place, making one of only a few cuts in 2022.
Hend’s fellow Queenslander, Maverick Antcliff, also just made it to the weekend in a share of 64th place.
