OLYMPIA FIELD, ILL. – Matt Fitzpatrick had been so frustrated by his game last week that he did not want to even play this week. Scottie Scheffler has been in the same place for almost all of this season – right at the heart of another high-stakes PGA Tour tournament.
Fitzpatrick, Scheffler and the BMW Championship are tied at 11-under-199 after 54 holes. One round remains. Fitzpatrick shot a 4-under-66 at Olympia Fields despite bogeys on the last hole. Scheffler, who scrambled and used his putter well, shot 64 to finish the day with the second best score in the 50 man field.
Fitzpatrick’s game has declined sharply since he won the RBC Heritage back in April. He has been struggling off the tee. His caddie Billy Foster even asked him, in June: “How in the hell did you finish top 20 at the U.S. Open, driving the ball the same as me?”
Fitzpatrick told Fitzpatrick this week, “That’s how it feels.” Feels like I’ve hit driver like Billy.
Fitzpatrick and his swing coach Mike Walker discovered something simple last Saturday on the range. Fitzpatrick was overswinging, so Fitzpatrick shorten his swing. It has been more in tune since. Problem solved.
Fitzpatrick snarled at Walker, “Why didn’t I tell you this three months ago?”
The Englishman desperately wanted a good week. Fitzpatrick’s projected improvement will take him to the fifth position if he wins the BMW on Sunday.
Fitzpatrick stated, “I enjoy it when the wind is strong and I can see that it’s getting firmer outside.” “I think that tomorrow will be very, very hot. Again, it’s obvious that you are playing late. It’ll be firm.
