Matt Fitzpatrick is closing in on a Ryder Cup place and equalling a Seve Ballesteros record after moving two shots clear at the Omega European Masters.
The former US Open winner carded a third-round 67 at Crans-sur-Sierre to leave himself well placed for a third title in the Swiss mountains on 15 under par.
That would equal Ballesteros’ record for the most wins in the event, while a now seemingly inevitable top-seven finish will see Fitzpatrick dislodge the absent Tommy Fleetwood on the world points list for a place on Luke Donald’s European team.
Fitzpatrick began the day one ahead of Sweden’s Alexander Bjork and threatened to runaway with it after responding to a bogey at the first with four birdies in his next six holes.
Another gain looked to be on the cards at the ninth when an imaginative chip using the backstop travelled round the green and returned to four feet, only for Fitzpatrick to three-putt before finding water off the tee at 13 en route to a double bogey.
The 29-year-old Englishman responded with three birdies in his last five holes to lead a chasing pack consisting of Swedes Bjork and Ludvig Aberg and Scotland’s Connor Syme.
“I was really pleased to make sure I was in the mix come Sunday because it could have unravelled,” Fitzpatrick said.
“I feel like there’s a lot of things for me this week – I can wrap up Ryder Cup, I can match Seve’s record and win here three times.
“A win here is always special and my third would be even better.”
In the race to qualify for the Ryder Cup via the European points list, Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre remains on course for a debut appearance in Rome, with his challengers – who all require a top-three finish or better – all outside the top 10.
Ireland’s Pádraig Harrington is tied 30th on seven-under-par, eight shots off the lead. Tom McKibbin is tied 60th on two under, while John Murphy also made the cut and is tied 68th on level par.
In the Walker Cup, Great Britain and Ireland have taken the lead over the US team at the Old Course at St Andrews after a superb day saw them take a 7.5 to 4.5 lead.
The Great Britain and Ireland team which features Ireland’s Alex Maguire, Mark Power, Matt McClean and Liam Nolan won the morning foursomes 3-1 and then held firm in the singles matches, winning them also 4.5 to 3.5. McClean and Maguire were a part of winning teams in the foursomes, McClean with John Gough and Maguire with James Ashfield. Power and Nolan showed their class in the singles by winning both of their matches narrowly by one hole, against David Ford and Austin Greaser respectively.
The matches continue tomorrow.
