New Zealand golfer Ryan Fox has opened his Paris Olympics in style on Thursday.
Fox is among the leaders after the first round of the men's strokeplay tournament at Le Golf National, tied for sixth, four shots off the leader, Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, after a four-under 67.
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It was a different story for fellow New Zealander Daniel Hillier, who did not fare well, carding a four-over 75, to be ahead of just two golfers in the field of 60, and will have his work cut out getting back into the tournament.
Fox, who is at his third Olympics - having placed 39th at Rio and 42nd at Tokyo - began well with birdies on the third, sixth and ninth holes.
There were further birdies on the 11th and 14th holes, before his only blemish, a bogey on the 16th.
The 37-year-old Aucklander said he was happy with his round, especially after his previous Olympic experiences.
“I’ve managed to play my way out of the tournament over the first couple of rounds in previous Games, so this was very pleasing,” he said.
“Any time you break 70 on this course you have to be happy, and it all went pretty well today, except maybe a three-putt on 16 and a couple of scruffy shots that didn’t cost me any strokes.”
Fox said he loved the atmosphere.
“Around the first couple of holes especially there were a lot of people and that atmosphere was pretty cool, not a normal golf crowd. It was great to be part of that experience.”
Hillier, 26, made a nightmare beginning with a bogey-double-bogey-bogey opening three holes to immediately shoot to four-over, but he steadied the ship after that and went out in 40.
On the homeward nine, he carded three birdies and seemed back on track until he finished with a bogey on the 16th and a double-bogey on the 18th.
The Wellingtonian described his Olympic debut as a special day, even though he did not get the start he was after.
“I was able to claw back a few, but then dropped three strokes near the end, so that was disappointing.
“It was a bit of a battle all day. I just didn’t quite feel right physically. Still there’s a long way to go and I’m hoping for better over the next few days.”