SOUTHPORT, England, July ⁠18 (Reuters) - New Zealand's Ryan Fox surged into contention for the ⁠British Open title by matching the lowest round in men's major ‌championship history with a brilliant third-round 62 at Royal Birkdale on Saturday, but it could have been even better.

Fox, who began the day off the pace at level par, ​carded nine birdies and one bogey in tranquil ⁠conditions to shoot the third ⁠62 in the space of 24 hours -- a staggering spree considering that previously ⁠only ‌five rounds of 62 had been recorded in men's major championships.

"When I birdied 14, I was like, I've got a chance ⁠here," the 39-year-old Fox told reporters. "Standing on the last ​tee, I'm going, ‌if I can get one on the fairway here, you can ⁠get a wedge ​or a 9-iron in and have a putt for 61."

Instead, a slightly wayward drive found a fairway bunker and although he hit a superb shot from ⁠the sand he could not sink a ​long birdie putt on the 18th green.

The consolation was that he was on eight under par and right in the mix for his maiden major title ⁠heading to Sunday.

"I would have taken 62 on a Saturday, that's for sure," he said. "It's nice to be in that head space. Hopefully, I can find something similar tomorrow."

Australia's Lucas Herbert and American Sam Burns carded 62s ​on Friday with all three in contention to ⁠win the Claret Jug.

Fox, son of former New Zealand rugby great Grant Fox, ​said he would adopt the same attacking ‌policy on Sunday.

"If you execute, you can ​score around here. If you don't, it will bite you pretty quickly," he said.

(Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Ed Osmond)