Defending champion Ryan Fox fired an ominous warning to the rest of the field as he carded a 66 at Carnoustie to make a flying start to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
The Kiwi won with a total of 15 under in 2022, carding rounds of 66 and 68 over the Old Course at St Andrews and a 65 at Kingsbarns.
His second-round 74 at Carnoustie - a course renowned for its difficulty - was his highest of the week by six strokes last year but he beat that by eight on day one in 2023.
He dropped just one shot, with a run of four birdies in a row from the 14th, including a chip-in at the 16th, catapulting him to six under, and he was delighted to get the better of a layout that has earned the nickname 'Carnasty'.
"This is kind of a course I've not really figured out too much before," he said. "I think it's probably the hardest of the three and if you get around here a couple under par, you feel like you've done not too much damage.
"I played great most of the day. Front nine I probably could have been a couple of shots better quite easily but sort of made that up on the back.
"I birdied a couple of those tough holes: 16, 17, I figure are a nice bonus. You don't expect to play those holes in a couple under.
"I'm really chuffed with the start. Obviously some of the trickiest conditions out there as well, through the rain, and it's not normally my strong point either. So pretty happy with how I handled all of that.
"Certainly would have taken a 66 at the start of the day.
"I can definitely take a lot from it and looking at the weather forecast, looks like we might get beaten up the next couple of days but nice to get a good score in today to give yourself a little bit of a buffer with what's coming."
