Fitzpatrick happy for 'Tiger-like' Scheffler to assume British Open pressure / Photo: HENRY NICHOLLS - AFP
-
Iran 'put hearts on the court' to win Asian Games basketball bronze
-
China swim sensation, 13, sets Games record after Japan win early
-
School girl Yu helps China dominate in Asian Games swimming openers
-
Drones hit Moscow as Russians go to the polls
-
Myanmar win first Asian Games teqball gold as Spain great Puyol watches
-
New England boss Fleming says 'wrong' to ask Stokes to end retirement
-
China's 13-year-old Yu scorches to first major gold at Asian Games
-
Germans vote in elections threatening fresh blow to Merz
-
Russians vote on last day of parliamentary elections
-
US fears rapid escalation in Mideast after Houthis attack Riyadh
-
Hong Kong pays final respects to former city leader Tung
-
Japan triathlete Hojo wins first gold of Asian Games
-
Typhoon put people off Asian Games opening ceremony, official says
-
IOC president impressed by 'beautiful' Asian Games wooden huts
-
China's 13-year-old Yu cruises as Asian Games swimming begins
-
First Asian Games gold goes to Japan as China's 13-year-old Yu lights up pool
-
AI 'warning shots' focus Beijing on national security risks
-
Data centre command hub keeps AI up and running
-
Philippine tribe in limbo over US-led tech hub
-
Pope Leo in France: the issues on the table
-
Leo XIV, first US pope transcends his restrained style
-
Packing for a pope: behind the scenes on foreign trips
-
Singer Ed Sheeran says Gaza situation 'unjustifiable' following controversy
-
Republicans find transgender issues a powerful political weapon in midterm campaigning
-
In 'Tenzing', a Sherpa mountaineer gets his due
-
German state elections threaten new shock waves for Merz
-
Ed Sheeran set to return to stage after Palestinian controversy
-
Chile's Bachelet quits race to be next UN chief
-
Toulouse edge Vannes, Lyon beat Pau to take Top 14 summit
-
Raphinha treble fires perfect Barca to win at Sevilla
-
Germans arrested for Louvre stunt in Mona Lisa hall
-
Thiam makes winning heptathlon return at Decastar meet
-
Saudi-led coalition says Houthis fired ballistic missile at Riyadh
-
Czechs beat USA to qualify for Davis Cup finals
-
France's debt climbs to highest since 1978: ministry
-
Dortmund sink Stuttgart to climb to Bundesliga summit
-
McIlroy two shots off the lead at Wentworth after eagle on 18
-
Trump says will not tolerate attempts to slow AI growth
-
Martinez brace saves Inter in Serie A top-two clash with Roma
-
'It has to stop': runners protest women's murders in S.Africa district
-
Rosenior abused but guides Paris FC past old club Strasbourg
-
Fire erupts near Riyadh airport as Houthis claim strikes
-
Seven-try Lyon beat Pau, climb to Top 14 summit
-
Cuba works to restore power after another blackout
-
Brighton defeat a 'big lesson' against complacency for Arsenal, says Arteta
-
England thrash Sri Lanka again to return to top of T20 rankings
-
Thousands protest inaction over climate crisis in Switzerland
-
Arsenal thrashed by Brighton, sorry Spurs lose again
-
Carapaz out of cycling world championships
-
South Korea, Austria qualify for Davis Cup finals
Fitzpatrick happy for 'Tiger-like' Scheffler to assume British Open pressure
Matt Fitzpatrick is hoping to sneak under the radar playing alongside world number one Scottie Scheffler in Saturday's final group at the British Open as he aims to end the long wait for an English winner of the Claret Jug.
Fitzpatrick is just one shot behind Scheffler heading into the weekend at Royal Portrush after further signs of a return to form in a five-under par 66 on Friday to climb to nine-under for the tournament.
The 30-year-old slipped to his lowest world ranking in a decade earlier this year when he sank to 85th.
But he recorded his best major finish since winning the US Open at Brookline in 2022 when he finished eighth at the PGA Championship in May and came fourth in last week's Scottish Open.
"There's nothing better than being in contention. It feels a bit uncomfortable at the time, but that's what you're searching for," said Fitzpatrick.
"You want to feel that. It means you're doing something right for the most part.
"Obviously the aim of the game is to stay in it for as long as possible and hopefully you can pull away right at the death. I'm obviously 50 percent there. We'll see what the weekend brings."
To become the first Englishman since Nick Faldo in 1992 to win the British Open, Fitzpatrick will have to get past the world's best who is in inspired form.
Scheffler was inches away from equalling the new course record of 63 at Portrush after carding eight birdies on Friday.
The American is on a 10-tournament streak of finishing at least in the top 10 with three victories in that run, including his third major win at the PGA Championship.
Fitzpatrick compared Scheffler's form to the dominance once seen by Tiger Woods -- the only player so far to win the British Open while ranked number one in the world.
"He's going to have the expectation to go out and dominate. He's an exceptional player. He's world number one, and we're seeing Tiger-like stuff," added Fitzpatrick.
"I think the pressure is for him to win the golf tournament. For me obviously I hope I'm going to have some more home support than him, but it's an exciting position for me to be in given where I was earlier this year."
D.Moore--AMWN