The Herald previews the start of the 100th NZ Golf Open.
Ryan Fox's search for his first NZ Open title started today at Millbrook.
The top-ranked Kiwi golfer arrived in Queenstown yesterday in a jet-lagged daze after competing in Mexico at the The WGC-Mexico Championship just two days before.
Fox's hectic schedule – including a maiden European Tour victory in Perth two weeks ago – finally caught up with him as he struggled in Mexico to finish 11-over in a tie for 67th.
But he's looking to turn it around back home in an event he says would be up there with winning a major.
"This would be right up there," he told the media yesterday. "A major would be bigger for a career but to win a New Zealand Open would be something that I would want to have on a resume at the end of my golfing career. The 100th one would be a pretty nice one to win as well."
The 68th ranked golfer in the world was visibly spent when talking to the media yesterday after arriving from his gruelling trip from Central America.
"I don't really know [how I feel] to be honest," he said yesterday. "I feel better than I expected to. I haven't hit a wall yet but I'm kind of expecting to any minute to be honest.
"Last week I kind of felt drunk most of the week. And just a bit lightheaded and a bit dizzy, a bit of mental fog.
"The motivation's obviously really high this week – that helps. I've got a few weeks off after this as well so that makes it easier to make it one last push and just try to put it out of my mind as much as possible and just focus on trying to make good golf shots."
Hole 1 - Par 5 10th: Birdie
It's about seven degrees on a chilly but gorgeous morning here at the Millbrook golf course.
Ryan Fox has arrived looking a lot fresher than he was yesterday alongside fellow Kiwi Steve Williams who will be carrying his clubs for the week. He's one of the first to tee off today.
The Pro-Am format here at the Open means Fox will be playing with dad and former All Black Grant Fox on the first day.
Fox goes with what looks like a 5 wood off the tee and smacks it down the middle which will give him a nice look at getting on the green in two on this short par 5.
He gets on the green in two to within about 20 yards but doesn't get enough on his eagle putt.
Again shows his power off the tee to leave an easy pitch into the green. Another Birdie chance but he misreads it again. Chance to see his iron play next on the par 3.
Hole 4 - Par 3 13th: Par
The 13th is a pretty little par 3 with the tee perched up a little hill and surrounded by Arrowtown's beautiful mountains.
Fox's tee shot is on the green but leaves him his longest putt of the day so far. He can't convert and settles for his third straight par.
"The ball is going a little shorter," he says as he walks down towards the 14th tee.
Fox goes for the green on this short par 4 and misses slightly to the right.
His pitch up the hill leaves a solid birdie opportunity but he misses it again.
The Millbrook course is playing very short for someone with Fox's power, especially in these conditions which is close to perfect. But he hasn't been able to convert multiple decent birdie putts so far.
Ryan Fox. Photo / Photosport
Hole 8 - Par 5 17th: Birdie
A big drive gives him another chance to get at the green in two but his second is way right and smacks a branch.
He does recover well though with a delightful little pitch to give himself another birdie opportunity - one of his best chances of the day so far.
Meanwhile, Grant Fox nearly takes out a spectator off the tee and struggles on the 17th.
Hole 9 - Par 3 18th: Bogey
A tough hole for Fox as he loses his wedge way left just missing the water. It's an area of his game he'll need to work on if he is to step up the next level.
He then pushes his pitch too far and leaves a huge par save which he can't get to drop.
So he drops back to one under after his first nine.
Fox gets it onto a similar area on the green that he's done all morning - to about 20 yards.
And this time he finally reads the putt right and gets it to go down.
He moves to three under and is one back from the lead.
Hole 15 - Par 5 6th: Par
Chance for Fox to attack the longer par 5 but he finds the bunker after two shots. He then produces one of the shots of the day as he gets his bunker shot to within six feet.
Fox is pretty perfect off the tee as he's been for most of the day but again it's a disappointing approach which leaves him with a tough downhill putt.
He judges the birdie putt nicely but misses it slightly to the left.
Hole 18 - Par 4 9th: Par
Fox goes big off the tee but finds himself with a tricky uneven lie in the tall stuff.
He then can't find the green with his second, and his third leaves him with a tricky par putt.
And with the largest crowd of the day circling the 9th green, he nails the putt to finish the day with a solid three under.
