MATT FITZPATRICK DURING THE 2022 ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS AT CARNOUSTIE. IMAGE MATT HOOPER.
6 October, 2023 - shank media, by matt hooper: JUST DAYS AFTER FEATURING AS PART OF EUROPE'S WINNING RYDER CUP TEAM, MATT FITZPATRICK IS IN TOP FORM AND LEADING THE ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP HEADING INTO WHAT LOOKS LIKE BEING A WET WEEKEND. THE 8-TIME DP WORLD TOUR WINNER RECORDED A THIRD PLACE FINISH AT THE OMEGA EUROPEAN MASTERS, AND IF THE ENGLISHMAN CLAIMS THIS PRESTIGIOUS TITLE HE WILL ONCE AGAIN SECURE A SPOT IN THE SEASON-ENDING DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP, AN EVENT HE HAS WON TWICE. HOWEVER, IF THE SHEFFIELD MAN IS TO TAKE THE TROPHY HOME HE WILL HAVE TO OVERCOME THE CHASING PACK, AND SOME PRETTY AWFUL WEATHER.
AN AMBER WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR RAIN ACROSS THE CENTRAL BELT OF SCOTLAND, STARTING AT 3AM TOMORROW MORNING, AND IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE THAT NOT ONLY ARE WE DELAYED ON SATURDAY, WE MAY NOT GET ANY PLAY AT ALL. AT THE TIME OF WRITING NO DECISION HAD BEEN ANNOUNCED REGARDING START TIMES FOR SATURDAY, BUT CONSIDERATION HAS TO BE GIVEN TO FINISHING THE CHAMPIONSHIP ON MONDAY, IF THE FORECAST BECOMES REALITY. SUNDAY'S WEATHER ISN'T GOING TO BE MUCH BETTER EITHER.
TODAY THE PLAYERS HAD TO CONTEND WITH GUSTING WINDS, ON AN OTHERWISE DRY DAY, AND FITZPATRICK MASTERED THE CONDITIONS TO POST A ROUND OF 64 AT KINGSBARNS GOLF LINKS. THE 2022 US OPEN CHAMPION MADE 9 BIRDIES AND A BOGEY TO REACH 13-UNDER-PAR FOR TWO ROUNDS, ONE STROKE CLEAR OF NACHO ELVIRA AND GRANT FORREST. BOTH ELVIRA AND FORREST WERE PLAYING ON THE OLD COURSE, SHOOTING 66 AND 67 RESPECTIVELY TO REACH 12-UNDER-PAR.
MARCUS ARMITAGE TEES OFF THE 3RD HOLE DURING ROUND TWO. IMAGE MATT HOOPER.
IN ADDITION TO ELVIRA AND FORREST MAKING A RUN AT THE LEAD, MARCUS ARMITAGE ALSO PLAYED WELL AT THE HOME OF GOLF, MAKING 5 BIRDIES AND 1 BOGEY TO POST A ROUND OF 68 IN ADDITION TO HIS OPENING 66, AND THE LIKEABLE ENGLISHMAN IS JUST 3 SHOTS OFF THE LEAD AT 10-UNDER-PAR.
MATT WALLACE IS WITHIN FIVE SHOTS OF THE LEAD AFTER TWO ROUNDS OF 68 LEFT HIM AT 8-UNDER-PAR FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP. GERMANY'S YANNICK PAUL, WHO MANY RECKON WAS UNLUCKY NOT TO BE PICKED BY LUKE DONALD, SHOT A ROUND OF 70 ON THE OLD COURSE TO ADD TO HIS OPENING 67, AND HE IS AT 7-UNDER FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
DAVID HOWELL IS PLAYING IN HIS RECORD 722ND DP WORLD TOUR EVENT THIS WEEK, AND AFTER TODAY HE IS POISED NICELY TO MAKE THE CUT AND CONCLUDE THAT MILESTONE WITH A SUNDAY STROLL AROUND THE OLD COURSE. THE 2-TIME RYDER CUP PLAYER SHOT TWO CONSECUTIVE ROUNDS OF 70 TO POST 4-UNDER-PAR FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP, 9 OFF THE LEAD AND ON THE CURRENT CUT MARK.
DAVID HOWELL TEES OFF THE 2ND HOLE DURING ROUND TWO. IMAGE MATT HOOPER.
DUE TO THE ABYSMAL WEATHER FORECAST FOR SATURDAY, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO LAST UNTIL THE EARLY HOURS OF SUNDAY, THE ORGANISERS HAVE TAKEN THE DECISION TO CANCEL THE ANNUAL TRADITIONAL FIREWORKS DISPLAY. THE EVENT BRINGS OUT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE TOWN AND IS A WAY OF CELEBRATING THE FIRST THREE DAYS OF COMPETITION ONCE THE CUT IS MADE.
YOU CAN VIEW THE DRAW FOR ROUND THREE HERE.
