Reigning US Amateur champion Matthew Fitzpatrick has added more interest to this year’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open confirming he will tee-up for a first time at Royal Aberdeen.
This news comes a day after the 19-year old Sheffield-born Fitzpatrick was selected in the GB & I squad for the St. Andrews Trophy late August in Sweden.
Fitzpatrick, and with his ‘banned’ Augusta banned caddy Lorne Duncan back on the bag, posted a pair of 71s to easily make the cut in the RBC Heritage Classic at Hilton Head.
“I’m returning home after this week’s RBC Heritage Classic and then hoping to play the FedEx St. Jude Classic but competing in the Scottish Open and then The Open a week later,” he said.
“I’ve not played Royal Aberdeen but I know so much about because of the Walker Cup, so I am very much looking forward to the week.
US Amateur champion Matthew Fitzpatrick confirms he will compete in this year’s Scottish Open. (Photo – Eoin Clarke – www.golffile.ie)
“I’ve played a bit of golf in Scotland including one of my favourites which is the Balcomie course at Crail. I just love that course and just enjoyed playing there so much.
“But this Harbor is one of my favourites in the States as I played here a few times before when on holidays, so to make cut here for a first time in a PGA Tour event is even more special.”
Fitzpatrick had arrived in South Carolina missing out by just a stroke in playing all four rounds of last week’s Masters.
Given Fitzpatrick has not turned 20 Hilton Head organisers needed special insurance permission for him to be allocated one of the many BMW courtesy cars while Fitzpatrick is banned under South Carolina laws from buying or being served alcohol.
And while management companies jostle to sign Fitzpatrick, the player who missed last week’s Masters cut by a shot, will not be rushed confirming also he will use his exemption in winning the US Amateur to contest also the following week’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.
However while Fitzpatrick could be pleased with his efforts Martin Laird was heading home after posting a 10-over par 81 and 10 shots more than his opening score.
It is Laird’s highest-ever US-based round on either the secondary Web.com Tour or the PGA Tour since making his debut in the States in 2005.
Laird’s official worst official PGA Tour round is his third day 82 in the 2012 Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St. Annes.
