Fitzpatrick had just signed for a 69 to move to nine-under give him a share of the halfway lead of the British Masters and set himself for yet another weekend in contention.
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Ireland’s Shane Lowry and Padraig Harrington are two shots off the lead after the opening round of the British Masters.
It is the first time that the British Masters has taken place since 2008 and as host of the tournament, Ian Poulter was instrumental in bringing the event to Woburn.
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The 21-year-old former US Amateur champion then produced a contender for shot of the day to birdie the third, conjuring up a delicate chip into the fringe and onto a steep downslope before seeing the ball curl perfectly into the hole.
Fitzpatrick is in his first full season on the European Tour after coming through the qualifying school last November, but is now 36th on the Race to Dubai after three top-three finishes in his last seven events.
Donald is considering options including The Grove in Hertfordshire or links courses in the south east of England, while Westwood favours Close House in the north east. Rose is understood to be hosting the tournament at Walton Heath next year.
Former European number one Karlsson would have joined him on 64 but for a bogey five at the last hole.
“I just want to keep doing what I’m doing, I’m enjoying myself going through the process and I’m hitting a few nice shots”.
“I was a bit uncomfortable with the new set-up but I worked my way through it and hopefully I can be a lot more comfortable over the next three days”, he said. I’ll have to wait until next year now. “Now, I’ve played decent and I’m getting the results I have been looking for”.
“I felt nervous on the first tee today, on the 10th, and that is a feeling I haven’t had for a little while”, Poulter said. They are surprising but I know what causes them, that’s the annoying bit.
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Fitzpatrick is now ranked 111th and will need to reach the top 50 by the end of the year or March 28, 2016 to get into the year’s first major.
