Fox struggled off the tee throughout the round, finding the fairway on eight of his 14 drives, however his approach play continued to impress as he made 15 of 18 greens in regulation.
At two-under, Fox sat seven shots off the pace set by American Joel Dahmen, who carded an impressive nine-under 61 in the first round.
Across the Atlantic at the Women’s British Open in Wales, Dame Lydia Ko led the trio of Kiwis vying for a major championship to sit in a tie for 74th at one-over through 18 holes. Amelia Garvey and Momoka Kobori sat a shot further back.
Dame Lydia Ko tees off on the 14th hole during the first round of the AIG Women’s Open 2025 at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club. Photo / Getty Images
Japanese players have dominated the opening round of the tournament at Royal Porthcawl Golf Course, with the first six names on the leaderboard all carrying the Japanese flag.
Rio Takeda and Eri Okayama shared the first-round lead at five-under after both carding rounds of 67. Takeda, No 12 in the world, won earlier in the year on the LPGA Tour with victory at the Blue Bay LPGA event in China while she shared second at the US Open. Okayama, meanwhile plays on the LPGA of Japan Tour.
Takeda bounced back strongly from a double-bogey seven at the ninth with four birdies down the stretch while Okayama opened with a bogey five before sinking six birdies.
Compatriot Miyu Yamashita sat in third, a further shot back, while three more Japanese players, including World No 10 Mao Saigo, were among the nine golfers sharing fourth place at three-under.
World No 1 Nelly Korda, world No 2 Jeeno Thitikul and recent Women’s PGA Championship winner Minjee Lee of Australia, ranked fifth in the world, were all three shots off the pace in a share of 13th.
Australian Grace Kim, who triumphed at the recent Evian Championship, is one-under, along with Canadian major winner Brooke Henderson.
Pre-tournament favourite Lottie Woad, playing at her first major as a professional, ended her round on level par, upstaged by English compatriot Mimi Rhodes, who finished her round two off the lead.
“It’s one of those rounds that could have got away from me so I am happy I hung in there,” said Woad, fresh from winning the Women’s Scottish Open last week.
– With AFP
