Ryan Fox one behind at BMW International
Ryan Fox – photo PGA of Australia
Ryan Fox’s stellar 2022 season continues in Munich in Germany this week with the 35 year old New Zealander just one shot off the 36 hole pace held by a resurgent Li Haotong at the BMW International.
Fox’s second round of 64, which was the equal best of the day, included six birdies and an eagle as he chased his 6th top ten in his last nine starts on the DP World Tour and even a missed cut at the US Open at his last start could not dampen what has been a significant elevation in standing for the Aucklander.
Fox is currently 7th on the DP World Tour’s standings in 2022, improving his standing in the word ranking from 213th at the end of last year to his current 67th and has set himself up for a potential second win of the year after winning in the UAE earlier this season.
Fox’s round was disrupted by a weather delay but on his return he was able to finish off a brilliant round despite losing some of the shot quality he was producing before play was called off.
“I’m really happy,” said Fox. “I did everything right the last couple of days and my short game has been really tidy – that’s been a big positive. I don’t think I’ve ever gone bogey-free for 36 holes. I’m happy and in with a chance over the weekend again.
“(Li’s score) proved there was a low number out there. We had a really nice group, I really enjoyed playing with Billy (Horschel) and Tom (Pieters). We got it going for a while and fed off each other. It’s nice to be up there and shoot a decent score today and be there or thereabouts for tomorrow.
“I had a couple of really good shots just before the rain delay and I was really disappointed we stopped. Obviously we had no choice, it was pretty dark out there. It was a little scratchy the first couple of holes coming back, but I made a nice birdie on 11 and then a 35-footer on 14, then hit some good shots coming home after that.
“It took a little more to get the rhythm back, but I was happy that the half-scratchy shots I hit were still not that bad. That’s what golf’s about right? It’s not how good your good is, it’s how good your bad is, and my bad has been pretty good the last couple of days.”
Li Haotong is fighting his way back to the level of golf he produced three or four years ago when he reached close to the top 30 in the world and in 2022 he has turned around a from slump which saw him drop to 463rd in the world heading into this season.
“I’m feeling great,” said Li. “I think I’ve only missed two cuts this year. It’s been working, especially off the tee, I’ve improved a lot and it’s back to where I was. I just need to keep griding, keep improving and showing up.
Wade Ormsby, who is the only other Australasian to have made the cut, could not improve on his opening 68 and only just made the cut on the number, perhaps feeling the impact of the announcement of sanction decisions made on DP World Tour members such as him who played the first of the Liv Series earlier this month.
Li Haotong – photo Getty / DP World Tour
