New Zealand golfer Ryan Fox plans to continue his aggressive approach off the tee as he tries to retain his lead during the final two rounds of the Irish Open.
Ryan Fox Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Fox was in a three-way tie for the lead at eight-under par after he backed up an opening day five-under 67 with a three-under 69 in the second round on Saturday (NZ time).
Alongside the Aucklander at eight-under are Frenchman Matthieu Pavon and South Africa's Erik van Rooyen.
One of the longest drivers in the game, Fox again attacked off the tee on day two and said he won't change that as he hunts his first win on the European Tour.
"I hit a couple of wayward ones early on [holes] three and four and hit a really good one down six going for the green and made an easy birdie and that relaxed me a little bit.
"I tried to take it on yesterday and I did the same today. I hit some great drives on the back nine, maybe one scruffy one on 17 but I birdied 16 and 18 with two great tee shots.
"I'll see if I can keep doing it over the weekend."
Fox, who can also book a spot at the looming Open Championship if he is one of the top three finishers in Ireland, made the turn in round two at even par 35 after a pair of birdies were cancelled out by two bogeys.
But his game came together on the back nine, three birdies and six pars ensuring he would start the second half of the event in the final group.
Fox said he was looking forward to the challenge of playing from in front as he chased his maiden win on the European Tour.
"It's my first time in one of these events being right up there .... that's going to be a nice experience tomorrow.
"It's all wind dependent. With this wind direction you can definitely take this golf course on a little bit, [but] if it blows the other way it brings a lot of those bunkers into play and you've got to lay back of them.
"That's the great thing about links golf, you can play a different course every day, hit different clubs all four days."
- RNZ
