The world number 63 was particularly pleased with his putt to save par on the 13th hole.
“Probably the one that the most important one of the day I holed probably a 20-footer for par on 13 after hitting an average tee shot. Certainly not a spectacular shot by any stretch, but it kept the momentum going.
“A bogey there would have been a bit painful. Holing a 20-footer is, yeah, it’s always, for par, is always really nice,” Fox said.
A strong showing in Canada is much needed to boost Fox’s hopes of representing the International team at the Presidents Cup in September, which takes place in Montreal. Team captain and selector Mike Weir is playing in the Canadian Open this week and sits two shots back from Fox.
Skinns has never won on the PGA Tour and shared the first round lead earlier this season at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches before finishing fourth.
Early leader Burns recorded two eagles in his round while O’Hair entered the week as the sixth alternate and due to a cancelled flight didn’t see the course until his first round tee time.