Fitzpatrick happy for 'Tiger-like' Scheffler to assume British Open pressure / Photo: HENRY NICHOLLS - AFP
Fitzpatrick happy for 'Tiger-like' Scheffler to assume British Open pressure
Matt Fitzpatrick is hoping to sneak under the radar playing alongside world number one Scottie Scheffler in Saturday's final group at the British Open as he aims to end the long wait for an English winner of the Claret Jug.
Fitzpatrick is just one shot behind Scheffler heading into the weekend at Royal Portrush after further signs of a return to form in a five-under par 66 on Friday to climb to nine-under for the tournament.
The 30-year-old slipped to his lowest world ranking in a decade earlier this year when he sank to 85th.
But he recorded his best major finish since winning the US Open at Brookline in 2022 when he finished eighth at the PGA Championship in May and came fourth in last week's Scottish Open.
"There's nothing better than being in contention. It feels a bit uncomfortable at the time, but that's what you're searching for," said Fitzpatrick.
"You want to feel that. It means you're doing something right for the most part.
"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 obviously 50 percent there. We'll see what the weekend brings."
To become the first Englishman since Nick Faldo in 1992 to win the British Open, Fitzpatrick will have to get past the world's best who is in inspired form.
Scheffler was inches away from equalling the new course record of 63 at Portrush after carding eight birdies on Friday.
The American is on a 10-tournament streak of finishing at least in the top 10 with three victories in that run, including his third major win at the PGA Championship.
Fitzpatrick compared Scheffler's form to the dominance once seen by Tiger Woods -- the only player so far to win the British Open while ranked number one in the world.
"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," added Fitzpatrick.
"I think the pressure is for him to win the golf tournament. For me obviously I hope I'm going to have some more home support than him, but it's an exciting position for me to be in given where I was earlier this year."
S.Taylor--PI
