Fitzpatrick Leads As Hojgaard Eyes Ryder Cup Place

British Masters - information 3 leaderboard

-12 M Fitzpatrick (Eng); -11 A Noren (Swe); -10 N Hojgaard (Den), M Penge (Eng); -9 M Wallace (Eng), S Forsstroem (Swe), C Adam (Sco)

Selected others: -8 A Sullivan (Eng); -7 D Willett (Eng), R Hojgaard (Den), D Bradbury (Eng); J Smith (Eng); -6 M Siem (Ger), A Fitzpatrick (Eng)

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England's Matt Fitzpatrick leads nan British Masters going into nan last information while Denmark's Rasmus Hojgaard moved person to an automatic Ryder Cup place.

The 2022 US Open champion Fitzpatrick is himself hoping to gain a captain's prime to look for Europe against nan United States astatine nan Ryder Cup, which takes spot from 26-28 September astatine Bethpage Black successful New York.

Fitzpatrick took nan lead pinch a chip-in eagle connected nan 15th successful a four-under information of 68 to scope 12 under, 1 up of Swede Alex Noren, and revealed Europe skipper Luke Donald urged him to play successful nan tourney astatine nan Belfry.

"My assurance is precocious but it's important to support my expectations arsenic debased arsenic possible," Fitzpatrick, who won nan tourney 10 years agone arsenic a 21-year-old, told Sky Sports.

"The extremity erstwhile I entered present was to make a lawsuit for myself [for nan Ryder Cup]."

German Marcel Siem led Fitzpatrick by 1 changeable going into Saturday but, dropped backmost to six nether aft a 75.

Donald will make six selections connected 1 September to adhd to his six qualifiers.

Sweden's Ludvig Aberg and Norway's Viktor Hovland, who are ninth and 10th successful nan standings, are not playing successful this last qualifying arena but look almost definite to beryllium picked, while Spain's Jon Rahm, who won nan LIV Golf individual title, is besides apt to beryllium included.

That would time off 3 spots. One would look group to beryllium taken by either Rasmus Hojgaard aliases Shane Lowry.

Rasmus Hojgaard, who blew a four-shot lead successful past week's last information astatine nan Danish Golf Championship, remains connected people to declare nan past automatic spot.

Ireland's Lowry occupies nan all-important sixth spot successful nan standings for now, but he is playing astatine nan PGA Tour's season-ending Tour Championship, a non-qualifying event, which intends Hojgaard will return that guaranteed Ryder Cup spot should he decorativeness associated 29th aliases better.

The Dane lies associated 14th aft nan 3rd round, alongside six others connected 7 under.

Given Donald's desire for Fitzpatrick to play astatine nan British Masters, you'd fishy nan a triumph for nan Englishman would cement his spot via a pick.

And that would time off conscionable 1 spot left.

England's Marco Penge, who roseate six places to 14th successful nan Ryder Cup standings aft taking advantage of Hojgaard's gaffe to triumph successful Denmark, continues to push his claim.

Penge equalled nan Brabazon people grounds astatine nan erstwhile Ryder Cup venue pinch a bogey-free 63 that featured 9 birdies arsenic he moved to associated third.

Back-to-back victories would surely impressment Donald.

England's Matt Wallace, who is presently 11th successful nan European standings, changeable a 70 to amended to 9 nether and will apt request to triumph connected Sunday if he is to guidelines immoderate chance of figuring successful Donald's plans.

Others successful contention including English brace Aaron Rai and Harry Hall, who person some impressed connected nan PGA Tour this season, while Austria's Sepp Straka looks to beryllium successful nan strongest position fixed he is seventh successful nan standings.

Meanwhile, Noren's 65 confirmed a return to shape aft he returned successful May from 7 months retired pinch a hamstring tear.

The 43-year-old Swede won 2 of his 3 Ryder Cup matches – successful nan foursomes alongside Sergio Garcia – successful France 7 years ago, but played down his chances of being picked this time.

"I haven't played capable of those tournaments pinch nan large boys truthful I'm not really reasoning astir that," he said.