Final hole halts Fitzpatrick’s charge

MATT FITZPATRICK was within one hole of becoming the first man at the 81st Masters to break 70. What a score that would have been on such a day. Alas, no hole at Augusta was free of significant danger yesterday, and certainly not the 18th with its stringent driving requirement. Fitzpatrick didn’t meet the test, his ball spinning well to the left and into trouble. He was out of position and here that always spells difficulty. The 22-year-old from Sheffield, who finished in a tie for seventh place last year, found the front bunker with his second, and the recovery shot from the sand trap didn’t quite carry a nasty ledge to make it to the flag. It left him a tricky 40-foot putt back up the slope and he came up six feet short. His disappointment was obvious as he missed the bogey putt. Still, any player would have happily taken a 71 before teeing off and Fitzpatrick was happy to take the positives. ‘I just played really nice,’ he said. ‘I hit a lot of greens and played really solid. It was difficult with how strong the wind is and it’s swirling all the time. It’s not easy but I prefer difficult golf courses.’ Fitzpatrick’s round showed once more how suited his game is to Augusta, where he can show off his expert scrambling qualities. Playing with Jordan Spieth, a man whose game fits well with his own, Fitzpatrick made a slow start before three successive birdies from the eighth as he wielded his putter to deadly effect. Two more followed on the back nine, including one at the 15th where his playing partner was running up a nine. Fitzpatrick got away with a poor drive at the 17th as he chipped and putted for his par but Augusta will only allow you to get away with so much. If only that last hole hadn’t come along to stain a round of considerable accomplishment.