On Saturday, Matt Fitzpatrick will be balancing his focus between navigating the course and keeping an eye on the leaderboard.
The British golfer faced the challenging Sinek Hills at this week’s U.S. Open and, after two intense days, he’s found himself four strokes back from the leader, Windham Clark, who stands at seven under after 36 holes.
Fitzpatrick wrapped up his second round on a positive note, securing birdies on the 16th and 18th holes, with a par on the 17th.
“Obviously, getting two of the last three holes is fantastic, especially here at the U.S. Open,” Fitzpatrick commented, finishing at 3 under. “I didn’t feel like I had accomplished much until those final holes. I stumbled a bit off the tee on the back nine, but overall I managed to scramble well.”
It was an impressive performance, especially considering that Clark surged ahead after a slow start in the opening round, maintaining his lead through to the second day after finishing his first round early Friday.
Clark continued to excel, tallying birdies on holes 12, 13, and 18, along with just two bogeys in the round.
A former U.S. Open champion, Clark struggled last year, missing the cut and expressing his frustrations in the locker room at Oakmont. Now, he aims for redemption.
“I thought I could get into double digits, but I didn’t feel at my best, and still, here I am at the top,” Clark shared. “It would be great to bring my ‘A’ game this weekend.”
Fitzpatrick, while hitting par on the front nine, found himself veering off track on the back, even hitting the road that divides the fairway on hole 12.
Now, heading into Saturday, he’s four strokes behind Clark and admits he’s always aware of where the leader stands.
“I’m always keeping an eye on the leaderboard during my rounds,” he said. “You want to be aware of your position and if adjustments are needed. At the U.S. Open, you’re not usually going for flags—most of the time, you have to play it safe and centered due to how sloped the greens are.”
“Sure, I consider that, but ultimately, I just try to play my game and see if I can make a few longer putts.”
He also mentioned, “You need to stay patient, but when you’re trailing, making mistakes isn’t really an option.”
Xander Schauffele, Tom Kim, and Sam Stevens emerged as clubhouse leaders on Thursday before play was suspended, and by the second round’s conclusion, the competition intensified.
Schauffele notably rebounded from being two over par after Thursday, ending round two at four under.
The two-time major champion credited his ability to stay calm in selecting the right shots for his improved performance. “I played really well today. I felt motivated after last night. The wind calmed down, and I regretted not taking full advantage,” he remarked. “I’m eager to shoot low going forward.”
Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy’s day didn’t go as planned, finishing one over in round two, and Scottie Scheffler ended both days at even par. They are tied for 11th, still seven shots behind the leader. However, McIlroy retained a sense of optimism.
“If there’s a course where I feel we have a shot going into the weekend with a seven-year difference, it’s got to be this one,” he expressed confidently.
