Golf: Ryan Fox struggles on 17th, Jordan Speith leads at The Open

  • 22/07/2018

Seventeen is proving to be an unlucky number for Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox at this year's Open Championship in Scotland.

The 31-year-old dropped a shot on the par-four 17th hole at Carnoustie for the third successive round on Sunday (NZ time).

It was the only hole the Kiwi had a bogey on, ending the penultimate day with an even-par 71 to be tied for 61st place at three-over for the tournament.

"I don't know what it is," Fox said when asked about his 17th hole struggles.

"I've hit two great shots which came up just short and then missed a five-footer for par, and I did the same today.

"I'd like to figure out that hole by the end of the week, and get inside the top 40, maybe top 30."

Fox started the third round in a tie for 66th and is now in an eight-way tie for 61st heading into the final day.

While Fox struggled, Tiger Woods has moved into contention as he sits four shots off the lead.

Woods shot his lowest round at a major since 2011, as a five-under-par 66 put him alongside Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood.

Making his first Open appearance since 2015, Woods sunk six birdies to take a share of a six-way lead at one point.

"It seemed like everybody was shooting six, seven under and I figured I could probably do the same, and I needed to with the leaders starting at six. I need to go get it," Woods said.   

"It's one of my better rounds I've played."

Woods trails countryman Xander Schauffele, Kevin Kisner and defending champion Jordan Spieth, who are all tied atop the leaderboard at nine-under.

The last player to make a successful title defence was Ireland's Padraig Harrington, who coincidentally won at Carnoustie in 2007 and again 12 months later at Royal Birkdale.

Spieth's victories would be the other way around and make it four wins in his past 15 majors, during which time the 24-year-old has also finished second twice, third and fourth.   

One of those runners-up finishes came after blowing a five-shot lead with nine holes to play in defence of his 2014 Masters title, while the fourth place came when he finished a shot outside a three-person playoff for the 2015 Open at St Andrews in pursuit of the third leg of an unprecedented calendar grand slam.   

"I can certainly draw on the all major championship experiences, good and bad that I've had. I've had a career's worth in a few years," said Spieth, who admitted he found it "difficult" to hand over the Claret Jug when he arrived in Carnoustie on Monday.

"I know as well as anyone that anything can happen in the Open. I'm not getting ahead of myself, I'm just in a good position."

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