Fitzpatrick's Strong Showing at British Open Fuels English Hopes

Matt Fitzpatrick, with a remarkable five-under-par 66, ignited hopes for the first English victory at the British Open in 33 years, securing second place at the halfway point at Royal Portrush on Friday. Many English golfers have come close to winning the Claret Jug since Nick Faldo's 1992 triumph, including Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Justin Rose, and Tommy Fleetwood.

Fitzpatrick's impressive performance, capped by a crucial 23-foot par-saving putt on the 18th, kept him at the top of the leaderboard at nine under. Although Scottie Scheffler later surpassed him, Fitzpatrick is heading into the weekend with high expectations. The Sheffield-born world number 59 acknowledged the opportunity to contend for the win, emphasizing the long road ahead.

Fitzpatrick will face world number one Scheffler in the final pairing on Saturday. Scheffler's outstanding 64 on Friday, the lowest round of the week, demonstrated his determination. This presents a significant challenge for the 2022 U.S. Open champion, whose best Open finish was a tie for 20th six years ago.

Fitzpatrick, 30, downplayed any added pressure due to the English drought, suggesting that Scheffler, as the world number one, will be expected to win. He noted Scheffler's exceptional talent and the "Tiger-like stuff" he's displaying. Fitzpatrick anticipates more home support and views his current position as exciting, given his earlier struggles this year.

Having not won since 2023, Fitzpatrick appears to be emerging from a slump. He finished eighth at the PGA Championship and secured top-10 finishes in his last two events, including fourth at the Scottish Open last week. His first-round 67 put him in a tie for the lead, and on Friday, he capitalized on opportunities with eight birdies. He felt his game was on point, allowing him to take advantage of the chances presented.