Fitzpatrick’s Ryder bid is Bjorn again
MATTHEW Fitzpatrick wrote himself the ideal Ryder Cup CV at Archerfield Links yesterday against the man who may yet hold the exciting English prospect’s Hazeltine fate in his hands.
The pupil turned the tables on his mentor as Fitzpatrick easily beat European vice captain Thomas Bjorn 4&3 in the first round of the Aberdeen Asset Management Paul Lawrie Match Play.
Five-under-par through the first eight holes, Fitzpatrick banished the memory of four consecutive missed cuts prior to last week’s US PGA Championship with a stunning performance.
In the highly unlikely event he is forced to rely on one of Darren Clarke’s three wild cards, Fitzpatrick will have a powerful ally in Bjorn, who couldn’t have failed to be hugely impressed by the youngster.
‘Thomas has given me a lot of really good advice which I’ve taken on board,’ revealed Fitzpatrick. ‘He’s a great player and a great person to listen to.’ After missing three cuts by a single shot and being blown away at The Open due to bad luck in the draw pitting him against the worst of the Royal Troon weather, the 21-year-old hardly put a foot wrong. ‘I didn’t miss a putt, stuck to my game plan and played smart. This is a nice message to send out because I have big expectations with so many things coming up — the Ryder Cup, the Race to Dubai and my defence of the British Masters title,’ he added.
Fitzpatrick faces compatriot Matt Ford in today’s second round, while another Englishman with Ryder Cup dreams, Chris Wood will take on Daniel Brooks after disposing of Australian Brett Rumford 4&3.
Tournament host Lawrie shrugged off his recent fitness problems to account for Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard 4&2 — before declaring himself a contender for his own event.
The former Open champion, who will meet Aussie Richard Green in the last 32, said: ‘I felt brilliant, the best I’ve been for a long time. I was hitting it at normal speed for the first time in a while and when I’m like that I can still be competitive.
‘Lucas is a lot younger than me and stronger, but I was hitting it up with him, if not past him, with most of my drives.’
Richie Ramsay, who regularly plays Archerfield, edged out David Howell and now faces Finland’s Roope Kakko.
And he’ll have compatriots Craig Lee and Marc Warren for company after their 3&2 wins over Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin and Jorge Campillo of Spain respectively.
David Drysdale and Scott Jamieson crashed out but Stephen Gallacher suffered the heaviest defeat of the day.
He was beaten 7&6 by Italian teen Renato Paratore after being out for the past two months with a wrist injury that’s forced him to change his swing.
‘The wrist felt fine,’ he said. ‘But there wasn’t much I could do against someone who was seven-under-par for 12 holes.’