Matt Fitzpatrick fired off a 3-under 69 on Friday to maneuver to 9-under on the Gamers Championship. He’s at present the one participant inside 5 photographs of the present chief Wyndham Clark, who has blistered TPC Sawgrass and is 14-under getting into the weekend.
Within the 50 years of The Gamers, solely 5 Europeans have gained the occasion, and solely two British winners — Sandy Lyle in 1987 and Rory McIlroy in 2019.
Following his second spherical, the Englishman supplied perception into why this match hasn’t at all times been favorable to the British.
“You look by the course of historical past when the match was in Could. It is most likely not one thing British gamers are used to, with it being Bermuda, agency, quick, 95 levels,” Fitzpatrick mentioned. “I believe that is most likely one factor to do with it. As soon as it is in March, it is most likely somewhat bit higher—there’s not a lot grain out right here that is affecting something.”
The Gamers Championship first yr was in Georgia on the Atlanta Nation Membership in September 1974. They moved to Texas for the 1975 model and performed it in August. The Tour first performed this match in March of 1976, however would not discover its everlasting dwelling in Ponte Vedra at TPC Sawgrass’ Champions Course till 1982.
It remained in March till 2007 when the PGA Tour moved the match to Could. That was the case till 2019, when it moved again to March.
The Tour moved it again as a result of they realigned the schedule, shifting the PGA Championship from August to Could.
Due to this fact, the one two occasions a Brit gained was when the occasion occurred in March. So, Fitzpatrick’s reasoning for the struggles doesn’t fully maintain water.
However the bodily situations doubtless attracts some parallels.
“It feels most likely somewhat bit extra like dwelling, I assume, with the grass,” Fitzpatrick defined. “It is a powerful golf course; there is no two methods about it. Some weeks you could have it, some weeks you do not.”
The 29-year-old’s finest end at The Gamers got here in 2021 when he completed tied for ninth. Nonetheless, it hasn’t been simple for him in his eight begins at TPC Sawgrass, as he has missed the reduce 4 occasions.
Fitzpatrick is off to his finest begin at this match. He has carded six birdies in every of his two rounds so far, serving to him keep inside placing distance of Clark.
May Fitzpatrick be the third Brit to stake his declare as a Gamers champion? The previous U.S. Open winner is No. 1 in strokes gained off the tee, selecting up 4.157 strokes on his first shot. He’s additionally No. 2 in strokes gained whole, selecting up eight photographs on the sphere.
“I felt like I did every thing nicely. I performed stable general,” he mentioned. “I made a few putts after I wanted to, drove the ball nicely, and my method play was good, as nicely. So yeah, felt stable general.”
Fitzpatrick sits solo second because the afternoon wave is available in. But when Clark’s tear continues, it could not matter to anybody within the discipline.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. For extra golf protection, you’ll want to observe us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You can too observe her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.