COURSE REALLY FITZ EUROPEANS

MATTHEW FITZPATRICK says the daunting French Open course will favour Europe’s Ryder Cup team.

The 23-year-old, in with a real chance of being part of Thomas Bjorn’s side, carded a round of 69 yesterday at Le Golf National for a two-under-par total of 140. And the Sheffield professional reckons the tight fairways will intimidate the USA in September.

Fitzpatrick’s efforts left him four behind surprise leader Marcus Kinhult of Sweden (below), who signed for a blistering 65.

He said: “I would say one hundred per cent it should favour the European team. The American courses I have played tend to be one-dimensional in terms of ball flight. Just hit it high and long.

“But with our courses and the weather conditions here you have to hit controlled swerves, a draw or a fade, and there are more variables.” American challenger Justin Thomas looked like proving Fitzpatrick (above) wrong until he suffered a double bogey on the 17th. Thomas said: “The wind completely switched, it went 20 yards further than it should have. I hit six good shots and made double bogey. “It was a bummer not to get more out of a good round, but that’s golf.” Four-time Ryder Cup stalwart Graeme McDowell had an ugly eight having found the water on the 18th, moving him back to three over par after a round of 77. McDowell said of the course: “Does it favour our guys more than theirs? Well, yes, but you have the 24 best players in the world and they can adapt.”