Matthew Fitzpatrick proving Ryder Cup worthy at Omega European Masters

Matthew Fitzpatrick holds the solo lead via 36 holes on the Omega European Masters, an vital event contemplating the European Ryder Cup group is finalized on Monday.

Fitzpatrick isn’t on the group but, however he’s ranked sixth on this planet factors for European qualifying.

Ranked forward of him is fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood and 4 gamers who’ve already made the group: Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland, and Tyrell Hatton.

However with a win in Switzerland, Fitzpatrick would make the group routinely. Due to this fact, he wouldn’t have to depend on a captain’s decide to make the European facet.

Photograph by Stuart Franklin/Getty Photographs

But, Fitzpatrick is a shoo-in to play for Group Europe, particularly after carding a 5-under 65 Friday.

He’s at present 12-under for the championship.

The 29-year-old Englishman, who celebrated his birthday Friday, holds a one-shot lead over Alexander Björk of Sweden. He’s additionally two photographs away from his youthful brother, Alex, who shot a 65 Friday as properly.

“We’re 4 years aside; we now have by no means actually skilled this earlier than,” Fitzpatrick mentioned Friday when requested about contending in a event alongside his brother. “It’s going to be a nightmare for my mother and father.”

Alex, who certified for The Open Championship, won’t make the Ryder Cup this time round. However he has performed a powerful stretch of golf as of late.

So too has Adrian Meronk of Poland, who leads the DP World Tour in strokes gained off the tee this season. The Pole shot a 6-under 64 Friday however ended his spherical with a three-putt bogey on 17 and a double bogey on 18.

Photograph by Stuart Franklin/Getty Photographs

Meronk misplaced his tee shot in a tree on the final gap, which led to the double.

Had he completed birdie-birdie, he would have shot an illustrious 11-under 59, which might have actually helped his Ryder Cup hopes. The large-hitting Pole ranks fifth in European factors for qualifying and might solely make the group through a captain’s decide.

Different gamers into consideration from European captain Luke Donald embrace Scotsman Robert MacIntyre, German Yannik Paul, and Frenchman Victor Perez.

MacIntrye and Paul each made the lower, however the Scotsman wanted to rise up and down from behind the 18th inexperienced to make the weekend on the quantity. He shot a 2-under 68 Thursday and 1-under 69 Friday to complete 3-under via 36 holes.

Photograph by Stuart Franklin/Getty Photographs

Paul, in the meantime, struggled on Friday after opening with a 6-under 64. The Frankfurt, Germany native carded a 1-over 71 and is now six photographs off the tempo after being one stroke again after the opening spherical.

As for Perez, he missed the lower by two strokes. Whether or not he makes the group stays to be seen, but when he does, he could be the primary Frenchman to play for Group Europe since Victor Dubuisson did so in 2014.

However Perez is probably going on the surface trying in, which makes his missed lower much more unlucky since European qualifying ends Sunday night.

However, Donald will discipline a formidable group, and if Fitzpatrick continues to play like he has in Switzerland, be careful for him in Rome.

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By means of. You may observe him on Twitter @jack_milko for extra golf protection. Make sure to take a look at @_PlayingThrough too.