Matt Fitzpatrick hopes he can use his agonising near-miss on the Players Championship final week in his favour when he goes for glory on the final day of the Valspar Championship.
Fitzpatrick led by one stroke forward of the penultimate gap at TPC Sawgrass final Sunday however a par-bogey end opened the door for Cam Young, who closed with birdie-par to win by a single stroke.
But Fitzpatrick is again in rivalry, eyeing a primary PGA Tour win since 2023, as he and fellow Englishman Marco Penge sit three off leader Sungjae Im going into Sunday’s final round at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club.
Sungjae Im has led after every of the opening three rounds on the Valspar Championship
Asked after his third-round 68 if his runner-up end at The Players was nonetheless on his thoughts, Fitzpatrick informed reporters: “Definitely a little bit. You’re always thinking about past experience, trying to draw on that and that’s what I did today.
“Going into tomorrow would be the identical factor. It’s one thing that you’ve simply obtained to be affected person with on the market and you have to use that to your benefit as greatest you may.
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Matt Fitzpatrick expresses his disappointment after lacking out on victory at The Players
“I’ve been confident in how I’ve been playing. Having that experience and knowing the feelings and emotions that come with that, as well as the pressure, I definitely feel that having that experience is always better than not, for sure.”
Penge, who additionally carded a three-under 68 on Saturday, is presently tied for fourth with Fitzpatrick on eight below, a shot behind American pair Brandt Snedeker and David Lipsky in a share of second.
Marco Penge is tied for fourth with fellow Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick
Im, on 11 below, has led after every of the opening three rounds on the Valspar, following up a massively spectacular 64 on the opening day with back-ro-back rounds of 69.
“Everyone’s here to try and win the golf tournament and I’m obviously no different,” Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open champion, added.
“It’s a big week after the Players, it’s a great run in towards the Masters next month. Obviously playing well tomorrow and if I was lucky enough to win, then it would be a great start to my season.”
Watch the fourth and final round of The Valspar Championship, dwell on Sky Sports Golf from 11.45am on Sunday. Stream golf contract-free.
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