Matthew Fitzpatrick and 26 other golfers handed US Open exemptions
Wednesday 8 June 2016 11:00, UK
Matthew Fitzpatrick is among 27 players to secure a full exemption into next month's US Open at Oakmont.
Fitzpatrick's place in the world's top 60 golfers - he is ranked 44th - was enough to earn him a place in the second major championship of the season, which starts on June 16.
There are now a total of 78 players exempt for the tournament which takes place at the Pennsylvania course last used for the US Open in 2007 when it was won by Argentina's Angel Cabrera.
Also added to the list, again via the world rankings, are reigning BMW PGA champion Byeong Hun An and Ryan Moore who are both, like Fitzpatrick, former US Amateur champions.
Sergio Garcia, who ended a four-year wait for a PGA Tour win on Sunday at the AT&T Byron Nelson is also among the players who have guaranteed their place in the field, which will be added to from a series of sectional qualifiers.
European Tour regulars Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Rafael Cabrera Bello, Jamie Donaldson, Emiliano Grillo, Thongchai Jaidee, Soren Kjeldsen, Russell Knox, Anirban Lahiri, Andy Sullivan, Jaco Van Zyl, Lee Westwood, Bernd Wiesberger and Chris Wood are also on the list.
World No 2 Jordan Spieth will defend the title he won at Chambers Bay last year, looking for a second title of 2016 after winning the Hyundai Tournament of Champions back in January.
He lost his grip on the Masters crown last month, however, when Danny Willett claimed a first green jacket in the first major championship of the year.
