{"id":26575,"date":"2022-06-19T08:11:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-19T12:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=26575"},"modified":"2022-06-20T12:13:12","modified_gmt":"2022-06-20T16:13:12","slug":"fitzpatrick-leads-the-field-as-us-open-enters-final-round","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=26575","title":{"rendered":"Fitzpatrick Leads The Field As US Open Enters Final Round"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Matt Fitzpatrick believes his previous triumph at Brookline will give him the edge (PA)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Matt Fitzpatrick believes his previous triumph at Brookline will give him the edge as he seeks a first major title in the 122nd US Open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nine years after winning the US Amateur title at the same venue, Fitzpatrick shares the lead heading into the final round of the year\u2019s third major with American Will Zalatoris, a shot ahead of defending champion Jon Rahm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

World number one Scottie Scheffler, Keegan Bradley and Adam Hadwin are two shots off the pace at the Country Club, with Rory McIlroy, Sam Burns and Joel Dahmen another stroke back and the last of just nine players in red figures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI certainly think it gives me an edge over the others,\u201d Fitzpatrick said of his US Amateur win in 2013. \u201cI genuinely do believe that. It\u2019s a real positive moment in my career. It kind of kickstarted me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo come back here and play so well again, it kind of just gives me growing confidence round by round.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fitzpatrick also contested the fourth round of the US PGA from the final group at Southern Hills last month, a closing 73 meaning he missed out on the play-off between Zalatoris and Justin Thomas by two shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t have my A-game that day and I felt like if I played anything like my A-game, B-game, whatever, I would have been in even better contention,\u201d the 27-year-old added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

McIlroy\u2019s chances of a fifth major title and first since 2014 looked to be disappearing when he played his first six holes in three over par, but a brilliant display of putting on the back nine kept the leaders in his sights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a long time since I won a major but I remember the feeling and I want that feeling again,\u201d McIlroy said. \u201cI am one great round of golf away from doing it and that\u2019s all I have to focus on.\u201d<\/p>\n

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