Matt Fitzpatrick hopes he can use his agonising near-miss at the Players Championship last week in his favour when he goes for glory on the final day of the Valspar Championship.
Fitzpatrick led by one stroke ahead of the penultimate hole at TPC Sawgrass last Sunday but a par-bogey finish opened the door for Cam Young, who closed with birdie-par to win by a single stroke.
But Fitzpatrick is back in contention, eyeing a first PGA Tour win since 2023, as he and fellow Englishman Marco Penge sit three off leader Sungjae Im going into Sunday’s final round at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club.
Sungjae Im has led after each of the opening three rounds at the Valspar Championship
Asked after his third-round 68 if his runner-up finish at The Players was still on his mind, Fitzpatrick told reporters: “Definitely a little bit. You’re always thinking about past experience, trying to draw on that and that’s what I did today.
“Going into tomorrow will be the same thing. It’s something that you have just got to be patient with out there and you’ve got to use that to your advantage as best you can.
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Matt Fitzpatrick expresses his disappointment after missing out on victory at The Players
“I’ve been confident in how I’ve been playing. Having that experience and knowing the feelings and emotions that come with that, as well as the pressure, I definitely feel that having that experience is always better than not, for sure.”
Penge, who also carded a three-under 68 on Saturday, is currently tied for fourth with Fitzpatrick on eight under, a shot behind American pair Brandt Snedeker and David Lipsky in a share of second.
Marco Penge is tied for fourth with fellow Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick
Im, on 11 under, has led after each of the opening three rounds at the Valspar, following up a hugely impressive 64 on the opening day with back-ro-back rounds of 69.
“Everyone’s here to try and win the golf tournament and I’m obviously no different,” Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open champion, added.
“It’s a big week after the Players, it’s a great run in towards the Masters next month. Obviously playing well tomorrow and if I was lucky enough to win, then it would be a great start to my season.”
Watch the fourth and final round of The Valspar Championship, live on Sky Sports Golf from 11.45am on Sunday. Stream golf contract-free.
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