Open Golf: Mullen and Fitzpatrick in silver medal battle

Jimmy Mullen and Matthew Fitzpatrick will battle for the title of leading amateur at The Open after both players made the cut for the final two days.

Royal North Devon’s Mullen was on the cut line for the final stages of his round, and entered the last hole needing par or better to make the weekend. With the pressure on, the youngster played one of the shots of the day on his approach to within three feet of the hole. He made the following putt to end +7 for the tournament – inside the +8 cut line. 

Following his round, which finished around lunchtime, Fitzpatrick looked an outside bet to make the cut, but brutal conditions on the course this afternoon saw the field slip and that proved to be enough to see the youngest player in the field make the weekend.

Commenting on the fact that he had posted better scores than the likes of McIlroy and Donald on the first day, Fitzpatrick said: “It was quite pleasing to see that but in all honesty I think I was more bothered about making the cut than beating the big names!”
Fitzpatrick: I think I’ve got a chance [of making the Walker Cup team]. I need two really good performances in the weeks to come to have a realistic shot at it, Sheffield’s latest young sports star will now have the joy of playing the remainder of the tournament knowing that good performances over the coming months could see him represent Great Britain and Ireland in September’s Walker Cup.

“I think I’ve got a chance [of making the Walker Cup team]. I need two really good performances in the weeks to come to have a realistic shot at it,” he said.

British Amateur champion Garrick Porteous also struggled in the afternoon, carding another round of 76 to add to the 76 he shot yesterday. “It is very tough out there. It is near impossible to get it close to the pin on certain holes. It’s been an awesome experience this week though”.

Englishman Ben Stow finished alongside Porteous on 11 over par, with American Steven Fox carding 79 today to end on +15.

The opening two days proved to be the stuff of nightmares for Grant Forrest and Rhys Pugh. Scotland’s Forrest shot 86 today to end the tournament on +17, and Welshman Pugh followed his first round 84 with a 77 to end on +19.