Fox falls down the leaderboard

Fox shot 68 and 73 at the PGA Championship in New York.
Photo: © golfsupport

Auckland golfer Ryan Fox has had a tough start to his second round at the PGA Championship in New York.

Fox dropped down the leaderboard from sixth to 19th after hitting three bogeys and a birdie over his first nine holes at the second major of the year.

Fox hasn’t played for a month after catching pneumonia and then celebrating the birth of his second child.

Fox relied on just two practice rounds to help him to a 2 under par 68 on day one in Rochester.

In his second nine, Fox would par all but the fourth which he bogeyed to shoot a 73.

Fellow kiwi Steve Alker managed to jump 19 spots and is tied for 131st after shooting a two over on his first nine in round two.

Alker carded two birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey to be plus 12 overall.

Steve Alker is sitting well back in the field at Rochester.
Photo: Photosport

Scottie Scheffler birdied the first two holes of his second round to move the leading score to 5 under.

Scheffler picked up where he left off after Thursday’s bogey-free, 3-under 67.

On the par-4 first, his wedge into the green sat down less than 2 feet from the cup.

The world number two is looking for his second career major title and his third win of the season.

Michael Block, one of 20 PGA club professionals in the field, will be among those making the cut after turning in his second straight round of 70 to remain at even par.

The head pro at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, Calif., Block made the cut for the first time on his fifth attempt.

Block said he wanted golf fans at home to know he is “one of them.”

“I’m just your local club pro. That’s what I do. People think I’ve got the best job in the world. I do have a great job. I have a very supportive club that lets me go play, but the amount of times I hit a bucket of balls is not even once a week.”

PGA Tour rookie Eric Cole, who held the lead overnight after starting his first round 5 under through 14 holes, made a double bogey Friday morning and carded a 67.

He followed that up with a second-round 74 to drop to 1 over.