THE 154TH OPEN

July 17, 2026

Ryan Fox

Mixed Zone

Q. 2-under today. How would you sum it up? Talk us through the round.

RYAN FOX: Yeah, look, I was really happy. I would say I was really, really good through 11 holes and then I kind of hung on for dear life a little bit at the end. I actually hit some good shots on that back nine, but it's hard. There's a lot of crosswinds, and the golf course is getting very fiery. I think I hit a 4-iron on 17 that went like 300 yards and I just kind of chipped it down the fairway.

It's getting really hard to figure out what the right play is on a lot of holes. It was a bit of a shame to miss that one on the last, but the rest of the day I was really happy with.

Q. Talk us through that stretch from 8 to 12 because obviously that was pivotal for your day today.

RYAN FOX: Yeah, to be honest, I was a bit pissed off because I had three-putted 6. I finally hit a good drive down there. I think I've played the hole four times this week, and today was the first time I'd hit a decent drive down there and didn't hit a great wedge shot and missed a short one coming back and made bogey there.

I lipped out on the next. Had a really good shot into 7.

Kind of decided to take 8 on a little bit with the tee shot and hit a really good tee shot down there and hit a wedge close in close, made the putt.

Hit it really close on 9, as well.

Then holed a putt on 10 from about 25 feet.

Took the tee shot on on 11, gave myself a sand wedge in from the middle of the fairway and hit it to about 15 foot and made that. It was kind of like, this is great.

Thought I hit a really good shot on the par-3, and had one foot in, one foot out of the bunker and left it in the bunker on 12 and made a good bogey, but that kind of killed the rest of the momentum. I felt like I did hit a few decent shots coming in, but it was kind of hang on for dear life out there.

Q. With the course getting crispy, reverting more to irons now for the weekend, like we saw today even a 62 from our Australian compatriot Lucas Herbert. Can you sum up how tough this course is and can you believe there was a 62 out there?

RYAN FOX: Yeah, I can. This morning there wasn't a lot of wind when we turned up to the golf course. Feels like in the mornings it's just a little bit slower and a little bit softer and then that wind gets up in the afternoon. It was kind of bang on when we teed off, and the course just gets drier and drier throughout the day. I think the R&A is potentially fighting a losing battle with that, with trying to keep it green. I wouldn't say playable but without looking like a complete cricket pitch out there.

Yeah, look, it plays different morning to afternoon. 62 is an amazing score, regardless. I know Sam shot it, and Lucas. It just feels like you've got no chance of shooting it in the afternoon. Maybe in the mornings when the wind is down you've got a little bit more of a chance, but to actually to go out there and do it in a major is pretty impressive.

Q. You're through to the weekend around about 50th at the moment, and your seventh made cut in The Open, but it does probably mean you'll be off sometime in the morning. Does that set you up with a good platform going into the weekend?

RYAN FOX: Yeah, look, I'm probably more disappointed that I missed the putt and I'm probably going to miss the rugby tomorrow, depending on what time the tee times are. I would have liked to have been able to watch that game. I think Shane and I have a little bit of money riding on the result tomorrow morning.

Yeah, look, morning is definitely a better chance to score, and look, it's so bunched outside of the guys right at the top. Obviously Lucas has got a little bit of a lead, but at the moment I'm six shots back of second. You go out there in the morning, shoot a score, and we'll be in contention come Sunday afternoon. I've still got to go out and do that, but that's the goal.

Q. Is your dad out here this week or is he following along from home?

RYAN FOX: They're at home. I'm sure they'll try to watch a little bit in the middle of the night at home. But yeah, Dad has done his long trip this year. They came to the PGA and a couple of events around that. A couple of trips a year is a bit too many for him now, I think.

Q. Have you had a chat with him this week about the course and your play?

RYAN FOX: Yeah, I chat to him once or twice a week normally, and I'll get a few tips here and there.

Yesterday was a bit frustrating. I felt like I played really well and didn't score at all, and today I took advantage of some of my good shots, which was nice. Hopefully I can do the same over the weekend and give Mom and Dad something to be awake for over the weekend.

Q. Millsy famously likes to claim that he can shoot a great score on these major championship courses. What would a 10-handicapper be on a good day shooting out here at the moment?

RYAN FOX: I mean, this is -- I feel like the U.S. Open is kind of the course to get people on that. Shinnecock was absolutely brutal this year, and a 10-handicapper wouldn't have broken 100 off the back tees the way we played it. But around here you can get away with missing a few shots here and there in the rough. I think a 10-handicap will still struggle, but if we drive it in the fairway the ball is going miles. They have a chance of breaking 100, I would say, but they could also have absolute nightmares in the bunkers, and that would be fun to watch, too.