Ryan Fox became the third golfer in as many days to achieve a record-equalling score at The Open, posting a 62 on the third day to move into a share of the lead at Royal Birkdale.
Fox's remarkable round included five birdies in seven holes from the second, with an outward nine of 29. Despite a lone bogey at the 13th, his inward nine of 33 brought him to the clubhouse with a matching score to co-leaders Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns. Herbert, an Australian, and American Burns had yet to begin their rounds when Fox finished.
Fox narrowly missed an opportunity to hold the outright lead when his 48-foot birdie putt on the 18th came up four feet short. Xander Schauffele, playing alongside Fox, is the only player in major championship history to have recorded two rounds of 62.
Not all competitors found the conditions as favorable. Masters champion Rory McIlroy expressed frustration as he struggled to capitalize on the benign weather. Consecutive bogeys at the third and fourth holes, where he missed a par putt from inside five feet, pushed him to one over par. He gained a shot at the driveable par-four fifth with a successful up-and-down from the front hollow.
McIlroy's round featured a 348-yard drive on the ninth that fell just short of the green, leading to an eagle after a chip-in. However, another bogey at the 11th saw him return to his starting position for the day, seven shots off the lead.
Bryson DeChambeau, seeking to put a recent rules controversy behind him, aimed for a strong start. The two-time U.S. Open champion had incurred a two-shot penalty in the second round for inadvertently improving his swing path by treading on grass around his ball in the rough on the fifth hole. Following unusual circumstances, including a trip back to the incident site and practice range sessions late into the evening, DeChambeau shot a four-under-par 66 to move within one shot of the leaders.
Local favorite Tommy Fleetwood, fellow Englishman Matt Wallace, and world number one Scottie Scheffler were among those in contention, starting their rounds four shots off the lead and looking to make a significant move up the leaderboard.
