Matt Fitzpatrick up for the Shinnecock challenge as he tries to make US Open push
Matt Fitzpatrick will spend part of his Saturday with one eye on the course and one eye on the leaderboard. The Englishman, who asked for a challenge out of Shinnecock Hills during this week’s U.S.Open, got his wish and survived the test through the first two days, finding himself four back of the lead held by Wyndham Clark, who was 7-under through 36 holes.Fitzpatrick ended his second round on a high note, with birdies on Nos.
16 and 18 and shooting for par on 17. “Obviously, two in the last three is always nice, especially at a U.S.Open,” Fitzpatrick said after finishing 3-under par.
“Didn’t really feel like I made too much up until those two holes, really.Struggled a little bit off the tee on the back nine, but overall scrambled incredibly well to be where I am.” It was a notable feat considering Clark had been the standard-bearer through the second round after breaking out in the first, following the delayed start Thursday, and finishing his first 18 early Friday morning. He continued to hold the top spot, finishing the second day of the tournament with birdies on 12, 13 and 18, while only bogeying twice in the round.
Clark won the U.S.Open in 2023 but made headlines last year after missing the cut and taking his frustration out on a locker inside the dressing room at Oakmont, but he is hoping to move on from the incident. Two days of good golf likely will help that, though he had hoped to be even further under par. “I really felt like I could be in double digits, but you know, the great thing about that is I didn’t feel like I had my best, and I still am leading as of right now,” Clark said.
“Hopefully, I can bring my ‘A’ game on the weekend.” Fitzpatrick shot par through the front nine before he found himself going on a wild ride on the back end of the course, including hitting his ball onto the road that splits the fairway on 12. The 31-year-old will start Saturday’s round four strokes back of Clark, on whom he will be ...