Eleven of the 12 European Ryder Cup participants enjoying in this week’s BMW PGA Championship shot par or higher on Day 1 at Wentworth, but it surely was once Matt Fitzpatrick (-6), Ludvig Aberg (-4) and Tyrrell Hatton (-4) who led the means for a crew that may sq. off in opposition to the United States in Rome in the forty fourth version of the crew tournament later this month.
Aberg is for sure feeling himself after being named to the crew two weeks in the past and opening with 68 to fall into T12, 4 again of chief Marcus Helligkilde. But it is most definitely Fitzpatrick and Hatton who will subject extra to the European aspect in Rome.
Hatton wanted a just right appearing following his surprising neglected lower remaining week at the Irish Open. He put in combination a nearly-clean card with 5 birdies and a bogey and is now poised for his first best 10 since the Scottish Open in July.Â
Hatton’s historical past at this tournament is just a little extraordinary. In his remaining 5 showings, he has 3 neglected cuts, a T57 and … a victory (again in 2020). It’s no longer the whole lot, however a pleasing rebound from remaining week’s unhealthy 75-69 efficiency can be a just right spice up going into the Ryder Cup.
Fitzpatrick on the different hand has been stellar of overdue with 3 consecutive best 10 finishes. He’s the new 5-1 favourite to win this event after his 66 on Thursday.
Much of the wondering to all of those golfers following the spherical pertained to how a lot they are all fascinated with the Ryder Cup. Most mentioned it is onerous not to consider it given its magnitude and proximity. Fitzpatrick, despite the fact that, did not appear to have that downside.
“It was a good day,” Fitzpatrick mentioned after making an astounding 8 birdies in Round 1 at Wentworth. “Felt like I performed actually neatly. Drove the ball actually neatly. It was once an all-around actual cast day.Â
“I’m here to try and win this week. I’ll start focusing for the Ryder Cup once Sunday finishes. This week we’re here to have a good week, play as well as we can and see what we can do.”
Viktor Hovland (-3), Tommy Fleetwood (-3) and Shane Lowry (-3) are all Ryder Cuppers in the team at 3 underneath, 5 again of the chief. Hovland, alternatively, has the second-shortest odds of somebody to win the event in the back of handiest Fitzpatrick.
He’s amongst the team making an attempt (and most likely failing) to stick locked in on the event to hand.
“I think we are all kind of thinking about the next couple weeks,” Hovland mentioned. “We certainly want to play well for this week but we want to make sure that our game is in good shape so that when we get into The Ryder Cup, we can just kind of focus on just playing golf instead of working on stuff. That’s not the right time to do it. Certainly, trying to have two thoughts at the same time.”
There’s a reason why he is handiest 7-1 to win right here even supposing he is 5 again after 18 holes. That’s as a result of he is completed in the best 13 in every of his remaining 4 occasions and completed T5 right here a 12 months in the past. This is Hovland’s first look since successful the Tour Championship at the finish of August, and he confessed to feeling some rust as he were given again in the swing of event play.
“Happy with the score,” Hovland mentioned. “I didn’t play very good today. I started hitting it a little bit better towards the end there but a lot of bad shots today.”
Hovland hitting it higher in opposition to the finish, as we’ve noticed of overdue on the PGA Tour, can be a downside for the remainder of the box.Â
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