Ryan Fox (NZ) continued his impressive 2022 DP World Tour form to open up with a first round six under par 66, to tie the lead in the £1.85 million Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett at The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield, England.
35 year old Fox, having already won the Ras Al Khaimah Classic held at Al Hamra Golf Club, Ras Al Khaimah in February, 2022, had a round of seven birdies and one bogey to lead, alongside Thorbjorn Oleson (Den), highlighted with three birdies to finish on holes 16-18.
The soft conditions suited the big hitting Fox, with preferred lies being in operation on the fairways.
Fox currently sits in fifth place in the 2021-2022 DP World Tour Rankings.
Two under par
Others of interest, in and around the top of the leaderboard, include three players on five under: Hurly Long (Ger), Ashun Wu (China) and Richie Ramsay (Scot).
Last week’s Catalunya Championship winner and Dubai resident Adri Arnaus (Spain) had a solid two under par 70, with his win moving him up to 52nd in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) and tied 17th today (Thursday).
Thomas Bjorn (Den) matched the round of Arnaus and the 51 year old, the 2001 Dubai Desert Classic champion, has found some good form over the last few weeks.
Tournament host Danny Willett (Eng) shot a one over par 73, the same score as playing partner and defending champion Richard Bland (Eng) to both lie in tied 76th.
T. Oleson (Den) 66.
H. Long (Ger) 67.
A. Wu (China) 67.
R. Ramsay (Scot) 67.
R. Hojgaard (Den) 68.
J. Walters (RSA) 68.
E. Molinari (It) 68.
B. Stone (RSA) 68.
Other Notables:
T 17th A. Arnaus (Spain) 70.
T 17th R. McGowan (Eng) 70.
T 17th T. Bjorn (Den) 70.
T 29th A. Otaegui (Spain) 71.
T 50th L. Westwood (End) 72.
T 50th D. Horsey (Eng) 72.
T 50th S. Heisele (Ger) 72.
T 50th A. Meronk (Pol) 72.
T 76th D. Willett (Eng) 73.
T 95th R. MacIntyre (Scot) 74.
T 95th R. Cabrera Bello (Spain) 74.
