Golf: Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox suffers a stunning collapse at US Open

After his four-over-par first round at the US Open, Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox was hopeful that he had played his worst round of the tournament.

“Everyone is going to have a bad day around here at some point and I hope that’s me today,” he said.

It was not.

Fox scored a disastrous 15 out of 85 in his second round at Winged Foot, scoring five bogeys and five double bogeys, as his 19 plus score was the fourth worst in the Major that saw many golfers struggle.

Conditions were so tough that Kiwi compatriot Danny Lee’s 75 out of five over 75 saw him drop only 11 spots, making the cut in fifth place, on a 33, nine shots from the leader Patrick Reed had.

This was the winged foot that everyone had heard of. This is the US Open that everyone was waiting for.

Reed responded to the first big test when the north wind came, bringing a bit of cold and a lot of trouble. He was never nervous about bogeys and made enough birdie putts and key saves for a par 70.

It felt just as rewarding as the 66 he fired in the first round, giving him a one shot lead over the muscular Bryson DeChambeau, who sped up and worked his way up to a 68.

The first round featured smooth greens, some accessible pins, and 21 rounds below par. The second round was the epitome of a major race known as the toughest test in golf.

Three players broke the pair. Another nine fired in tandem. Everyone else was waiting for her life. Only six players remained in the red.

“It’s almost like they set it up to ease our path and then showed us what it’s really supposed to be like,” Reed said.

Television showed his five birdies. What led him to the 36-hole four-under-par lead was a collection of pairs of bunkers and thick grass right on the greens.

DeChambeau also showed plenty of stamina, rebounding with birdies after his five bogeys and finishing the best round of the day with a pitching wedge downwind, 557 yards, par five ninth at six feet for the eagle.

Rafa Cabrera-Bello from Spain and Harris English each had a 70 and two under par. They were joined by Justin Thomas, who started with a 65 and lost all those shots to par after 10 holes. He got a 73 and he’s on it. Jason Kokrak (71) was the only other player under par in a low one.

“This is not exactly a place where you go out and try to shoot six or seven under par to catch up,” Thomas said. “I’m not going to worry about what other people are doing because you could shoot 80 just as easily as you would shoot 68. I just need to stay focused and, most importantly, go home and get some rest. Because I’m pretty tired.”

There are 36 holes left and there is no indication that Winged Foot is going to be any easier.

“The rough is still very thick. I don’t think they’re planning to cut it,” Matthew Wolff said after salvaging a 74 that left him four shots behind. “The greens will only get firmer and the scores will only get higher.”

Tiger Woods is one of those who will not be present to experience it. He had a pair of double bogeys at the end of the last nine and two birdies in his last three holes gave him a 77. He missed the cut by four shots, the eighth time in his last 15 majors that he will not be close. for the weekend.

“It seems like the way the golf course is changing, it’s changing, that anyone who makes the cut has a chance to win this championship,” Woods said. “I didn’t have that opportunity.”

Neither did Phil Mickelson, who had his best score on 36 holes in 29 appearances in the only major he hasn’t won. The same goes for Jordan Spieth, whose 81 was his highest score in a major. PGA Champion Collin Morikawa missed a eight-foot birdie putt on the final hole that cost him a chance to continue playing.

There were many great rounds on such a demanding field, many of which collapsed in the end. Louis Oosthuizen was three under par in the morning when he finished bogey-bogey-double bogey for a 74. Xander Schauffele was three under par until he bogey three of his last five holes.

Rory McIlroy’s troubles started early. He was five more on seven holes, including a birdie at the start, and he shot 76 to fall seven shots behind. Dustin Johnson was ghost-free through 16 holes until a couple of bad tee shots led him to a bogey. He was 70 and was in the group of three more.

They all still feel like the US Open is in the offing.

“I’m sure now, after seeing what was there this afternoon, the over-par will win this tournament,” Adam Scott said that a 74 left him nine shots behind.

“The greens finally dried up. If there is any breeze, the pair is winning.”

He usually does it on Winged Foot.

– With AP