Underdog role suits defending champion

Defending Fitzpatrickanotherdefence of surprisehis championhopes Nordeawithto springMatt a Masters successful title in Malmo.

The 22-year-old had missed the cut in three of his previous four events before last year’s victory and arrived in Sweden on the back of a tie for 47th in the BMW PGA Championship.

And although he comes into this week’s event after finishing 12th at Wentworth, a change of venue and the presence of home favourites Alex Noren and Henrik Stenson meansaccept the Fitzpatrickrole of underdog.is happy to After an eight-year absence, the Nordea Masters has returned to Stenson’s home club of Barseback, which Fitzpatrick only saw for the first time yesterday. extra“I don’t pressure think (beingit brings defendingany champion),” Fitzpatrick told a pre-tournament press conference. “People aren’t expecting me to win at the end of the day. “People are expecting Alex Noren or Henrik Stenson to win, which is completely understandable. For me, as strange as it sounds, it just feels like a normal event.

“It’s great to come here as defending champion. Obviously it’s on a different course so it has a different feel to it, but it’s a great feeling knowing that the trophy is technically still in your hands.

“I just need to go out there tomorrow and hopefully hold on to it.”

Seven Scots are in the field – Richie Ramsay, Marc Warren, Scott Jamieson, Stephen Gallacher, Duncan Stewart, David Drysdale and Scott Henry.

Matt Fitzpatrick: hoping to repeat surprise victory.