Matt Fitzpatrick could not have started better than he did at the 2022 DP World Tour Championship.
Five straight birdies would be a great way to start the day. Fitzpatrick was the U.S. Open champion in 2022 at Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai. On the eighth hole, Fitzpatrick added another and went out at 6-under-30.
Fitzpatrick shot a 7-under 65 in round one and is now tied with Tyrrell Hatton after the first 18 holes. Hatton had a birdie attack, scoring four consecutive holes from No. 13-16. 13-16.
Fitzpatrick stated, “I was laughing (at first), to be truthful.” It was a good start to the day.
64ft! @TyrrellHatton #DPWTC | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/tP4RWYvxTP
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour November 17, 2022
Fitzpatrick said that he was suffering from dry cough and sore throat. He hit all but one green in the first round. He won the DP World Tour Championship twice at Jumeirah. He won the title by beating Hatton in 2016 by one shot.
Hatton stated that he is still thinking about the final hole and a bogey.
Hatton stated, “It’s what it is.”
Alex Noren shot 6-under 66 to win the lead by one shot over Alex Noren, who shot 6-under 66 in Houston last week on PGA Tour.
Tommy Fleetwood broke a three-year drought in South Africa last week and is now T-5 at 4 under. Rory McIlroy shot 1 under to be tied for 22nd in the DP World Tour points standings.
McIlroy must finish in a tie for second or solo second if Fitzpatrick, third in points, wins. McIlroy must tie for third in order to win if Fleetwood wins.
