Golf: Ryan Fox makes strong start at US Open, Rickie Fowler and ...

Ryan Fox plays his shot from the seventh tee during the first round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at The Los Angeles Country Club. Photo / Getty

Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox has made a strong start to the US Open at the Los Angeles Country Club while Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele both made history with the lowest rounds ever round at the event.

Early into the opening day, Fox sits in a share of seventh place at two-under, five shots back from the two leaders.

The world number 41 had back-to-back birdies to finish the front nine followed by a third birdie at the par four 12th which saw him briefly move into third place on the leaderboard. His only bogey of the day came at the following hole.

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Fowler stormed into the lead with an eight-under 62, the first time a player has carded a round that low at the US Open. It is the 123rd edition of the US Open with more than 47,000 rounds previously played. Olympic gold medalist Schauffele then also posted a 62 just 20 minutes later.

Fox has recorded strong showings at the first two majors of the year with a t-26th at the Masters followed by a 23rd at Oak Hill.

Playing in his fifth US Open, Fox’s best finish was a tied for 41st at the 2018 event at Shinnecock Hills. He has missed the cut at his last three US Open tournaments.

Fowler and Schauffele share the major championship record with Branden Grace, who had a 62 in the third round at Royal Birkdale in the 2017 British Open.

The record comes on the 50-year anniversary of Johnny Miller becoming the first player to shoot 63 in a U.S. Open, in the final round at Oakmont.

Five others have shot 63 in the U.S. Open since then, most recently Tommy Fleetwood in the final round at Shinnecock Hills in 2018.

Even more remarkable about Fowler’s score is he had two bogeys on this card on the 11th and 17th holes, the front nine of what turned out to be a record round. His 15-foot birdie on the 18th hole was the start of four straight birdies. And when he found a bunker to the right of the par-3 fourth hole, he came within inches of holing it.

Fowler had to two-putt for par from just inside 60 feet on his final hole. Schauffele had a chance for 61 until he left his birdie putt from just inside 30 feet well short.

They set the pace for a remarkable start of low scores in prime scoring conditions at LACC, a century-old club on the edge of Beverly Hills that is hosting a major for the first time. Mild temperatures and a cloudy sky kept the course as receptive as it could be.

The next best score from the morning wave of players was a 67.