OPEN AND SHUTOUT
Troon doubt after Henry’s horrid 8
A triple bogey on day three at the Nordea Masters looks to have derailed Scott Henry’s chance of teeing-up at next month’s Open Championship.
Henry was nine under par, just a few shots from the lead, when he recorded an eight at the par five 12th hole on the stunning Bro Lof Slott course in Stockholm.
The 29-year-old Glaswegian ended with a 74 to drop to seven over par and trail eight shots adrift of tearaway leader England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick birdied half of his closing 10 holes in a four under par 68 to take a five-shot lead into today’s final round.
The reigning British Masters champ is looking to capture a second Tour title since breaking through last October at Woburn.
And on top of finishing seventh at Augusta National, 22- year- old Fitzpatrick, from Sheff ield, will further cement his current fourth place standing on the European Ryder Cup points table with victory in the Swedish capital.
He said: “I am delighted to be leading by five but there is still a long way to go – and this is golf, so anything can happen.
“It was nice to play well and all I can do is try my best, as simple as that may sound.
“If I am not playing good enough in the final round and someone plays better and finishes in front of me, than fair play to them.”
Swedish former champion Alex Noren (67) and Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts (70) are tied in second place, on 10 under par, with Henry sharing ninth position at seven under par.
Henry now has to finish behind Fitzpatrick and ahead of Noren and Colsaerts if he’s to secure the lone Royal Troon spot on offer in Sweden.
Fellow Scot Marc War ren continued to struggle following a first-round 67, going on to produce scores of 73 and 74.
Warren had spent last weekend and Monday on the Wentworth practice range under the guidance of new coach Hugh Marr before jetting off to Stockholm.
It also meant him withdrawing from last Monday’s US Open qualifier at Walton Heath.
Former World No.1 Lee Westwood failed to make a move and remained five under after a round of 72 that included a double bogey.
Meanwhile, Nairn’s Sandy Scott is out to celebrate his 18th birthday later this month with victory in today’s concluding prestigious St Andrews Links Trophy.
The teenager added a second round 67 to his opening 68 and heads to the Old Course just one shot behind leader Conor O’Rourke (Ireland).
Scott burst on to the Scotland amateur stage with his maiden boys win at the Stephen Gallacher event last June. Next he captured the Men’s East of Scotland Amateur Stroke Play Championship on his 17th birthday.
He then followed up by an impressive wire-to-wire success at the Scottish Open Stroke Play Championship.