Matt Fitzpatrick will be looking to ascend to the pinnacle of golf again this weekend but standing in his way – Scottie Scheffler.
Sheffield-born Fitzpatrick won the 2022 US Open in stunning style to join golf’s elite but has struggled for form over the past couple of years.
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Fitzpatrick has a great chance of winning The 2025 OpenCredit: Getty
The 30-year-old has hit back at Royal Portrush this week and his impressive 66 on Friday has put him in an excellent position to end a 33-year wait for an English winner of The Open.
Fitzpatrick will resume his tournament in the leading group for Saturday’s third round and will be joined by world number one Scheffler.
Scheffler has been in imperious form yet again in Northern Ireland, shooting a seven-under 64 in the second round to give himself the outright 36-hole lead.
Fitzpatrick has been eager to prove his major win at Brookline was not a one-off but battling Scheffler over the weekend will be no easy task.
But the Englishman is relishing the prospect and believes the pressure is completely on his Claret Jug rival.
“I’m giving myself an opportunity to win the golf tournament, but there’s still a hell of a long way to go,” said the Yorkshireman.
“Obviously the aim of the game is to stay in it for as long as possible and hopefully you can pull away right at the death. I’m 50 per cent there.
“I wouldn’t say I necessarily feel as much pressure (as Scheffler). He’s going to have the expectation to go out and dominate.
“He’s an exceptional player. He’s world number one and we’re seeing Tiger-like stuff. I think the pressure is for him to win the golf tournament.”
Matt Fitzpatrick career wins
2015 British Masters
2016 Nordea Masters
2016 DP World Tour Championship
2017 Omega European Masters
2018 Omega European Masters
2020 DP World Tour Championship
2021 Andalucia Masters
2022 US Open
2023 RBC Heritage
2023 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
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Scheffler is leading The Open after the first two daysCredit: Getty
Scheffler’s 64 was his lowest round in a major and he is the only player to birdie the notoriously-difficult short 16th twice to be five under for the par threes this week.
“I felt like I hit a few more fairways than I did yesterday, hit some really nice iron shots and was able to hole some putts,” said the American.
“I feel I am hitting the ball pretty solid and I am excited for the rest of the tournament. We are only halfway done.”
Scheffler holds the lead at ten-under par, one ahead of Fitzpatrick with Brian Harman and Haotong Li two back.
Former Open champion Harman is looking to replicate his dominant win from Hoylake in 2023.
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Harman is looking to ‘waggle’ his way to another major in Britain this weekCredit: Getty
“They’re very different golf courses, but the golf is similar,” he said.
“I’ll approach the weekend the same way. The only thing I’m really worried about is the first tee ball tomorrow and then I’ll try to hit the next one up there close to the flag.
“If not, go to the second hole. It’s a very boring approach that I take.
“I’m not trying to be heroic or do anything crazy. I know that I’ve got the game to do it, and it’s just a matter of executing and staying in my own head.
“I would love to have a similar weekend and just play great the whole way through.”
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