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A18 SPORTS
Saturday 27 July 2019

Matthew Fitzpatrick shoots 6-under 64 to take Memphis lead

By TERESA M. WALKER binge on the par-3 fourth
AP Sports Writer hitting his tee shot from 174
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — yards to 10 feet.
Matthew Fitzpatrick is play- Fitzpatrick had a brief share
ing at TPC Southwind for of the lead at 7 under be-
the first time in his young fore failing to get up and
career, and the 24-year- down from a green-side
old Englishman has found bunker on the par-3 eighth
a course that fits him very, for his lone bogey through
very well. 36 holes. He rebounded
Fitzpatrick shot a 6-under with birdie on No. 9 af-
64 on Friday in the FedEx ter hitting his second from
St. Jude Invitational to take 137 yards to 6 feet. With
a two-stroke lead into the Rahm turning in his second
weekend at the World Golf straight bogey, Fitzpatrick
Championships event. took the lead to himself at
He birdied the first four 7 under. Cantlay birdied
holes and finished with No. 8 to share the lead with
seven birdies and a bogey. Fitzpatrick who hit his ap-
He took the lead with his proach within 7 feet on No.
fifth birdie and added two 12 before rolling in the putt
more on the back nine to for his sixth birdie to take
finish at 9-under 131. Matthew Fitzpatrick, of England, views his putt on the seventh green during the second round of the lead back to himself
"The golf course probably the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational Friday, July 26, 2019, in Memphis, Tenn. at 8 under. He two-putted
suits me more than most," Associated Press from 36 feet for birdie and
Fitzpatrick said. "If you miss hole. The 2014 FedExCup Top-ranked Brooks Koepka ed tied for 13th at 3 under. a two-stroke lead at 9 un-
a fairway, you don't know champ hit his tee shot on had a 67 to match 2018 He hit 15 of 18 greens tak- der on the par-5 16th and
how it's going to come out the par-3 eighth to 4 feet FedEx Cup champ Justin ing advantage of his strong parred out for the lead.
of the rough so that makes only to pull his tee shot left Rose (68), Bubba Watson iron play, and the differ- After a double bogey on
it tougher. If I can just keep on No. 9 and finish with a (70), Ian Poulter (69), Webb ence this time was making No. 12, Cantlay birdied
hitting fairways and greens, bogey. He was tied for sec- Simpson (66), and Alex No- his putts. two of his final three holes
then give yourself a lot of ond with Patrick Cantlay ren (69) at 5 under. "It's something I struggled to stay close to Fitzpatrick.
chances. And ... the greens (68), Cameron Smith (68) "This golf course you kind of to do this year," Fitzpatrick He finished his round with a
are so pure. Hopefully, from and first-round leader Jon knew everybody was go- said. "Previous years I've 40-footer for birdie.
there just keep doing what Rahm (71). Shugo Imahira ing to be jam-packed," Ko- been playing great and Divots: Fitzpatrick's 64 is his
I'm doing really." (69) was another stroke epka said. end of last year and major- lowest score in 56 starts
This is the third time Fitzpat- back. Fitzpatrick played a season ity of this year I've struggled on the PGA Tour. ... Dustin
rick, who is still looking for "I had a couple bad tee at Northwestern and won a little bit. I mean, it's hard Johnson, a two-time winner
his first tour win, has had shots that cost me bogeys, the 2013 U.S. Amateur, be- not to putt well on these of the FedEx St. Jude Clas-
the lead or shared the lead but other than that, do- coming first English champ greens, they're unbeliev- sic on this course, birdied
and second this year. He ing a lot of good things," since Harold Hilton in 1911. able. I would say they're his final two holes and is
led after the third round at Horschel said. "Probably He turned pro in 2014 and probably the best we play at 2 under. ... Johnson also
the Arnold Palmer Invita- could have been lower if has won five times interna- on all year bar Augusta." hit the water off the left
tional and finished second. I had made a few more tionally. He hit his approach on the edge of the par-3 11th. TPC
"It's a nice place to be," he putts my first nine holes on He tied for 12th at the U.S. par-4 first to 8 feet for bird- Southwind has had more
said. the back side, get a little bit Open in June and tied for ie. He rolled in a 26-footer balls in the water on the
Billy Horschel (66) had a of momentum, but 4-under 20th last week at the British on No. 2, hit his third shot PGA Tour than any other
chance to catch Fitzpat- par on this course any day Open. on the par-5 third to 8 feet course with 5,544 balls wet
rick after a birdie on his 17th is really good." On Friday, Fitzpatrick start- and wrapped up his birdie between 2003 and 2018.q

Wes Short Jr. takes 1-shot lead at Senior British Open

LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England ferent shots off the tee and ern Ireland, who won the
(AP) — Wes Short Jr. shot tried to avoid the bunkers 2011 British Open at Royal
his second straight 3-under and had a really nice (run) St. George's, was third at
67 on Friday to take a one- birdieing the last three." Fel- 4 under after his second
shot lead after two rounds low American Scott Dunlap consecutive 68 in his Senior
of the Senior British Open. shot 68 and was one shot Open debut. "I missed ev-
After an up-and-down sec- back. He bounced back erything today. Kept giving
ond round at Royal Lytham from an early double bo- myself opportunities and
& St. Annes that included a gey on the par-3 fourth. "I just not making anything,"
double bogey on the par- never played any of the Clarke said. "Particularly
4 sixth, Short closed with regular Opens here, but frustrating, whenever I give
three straight birdies to post I've played the golf course myself those chances and
6-under 134 and take the probably a half a dozen not take them, and hope-
solo lead at a senior major times and loved it," Dunlap fully that doesn't cost me at
for the first time. "I like it. It said. "I really wanted to be the end of the week. Tee-
makes you think," Short said here and see what it was to-green has all been pret-
In this Thursday, June 29, 2017 file photo, Wes Short Jr. of the U.S of the English links that has like in tournament compe- ty good. I got off to a bit of
holds up his ball during the first round of the U.S. Senior Open golf
tournament, in Peabody, Mass. hosted the British Open 11 tition, and so far, so good." a dodgy start today, but af-
Associated Press times. "I played a lot of dif- Darren Clarke of North- ter that I played nicely."q