Matthew Fitzpatrick and Sam Hutsby in contention at Czech Masters
Thursday 27 August 2015 20:31, UK
Matthew Fitzpatrick feels there’s still room for improvement to his game despite an impressive opening round at the Czech Masters.
The former US Amateur champion birdied two of his opening three holes on his way to a six-under 66 to stay within one stroke of first round leaders Renato Paratore and Eduardo De La Riva.
Although Fitzpatrick posted a bogey-free round in scoring-friendly conditions at the Albatross Golf Resort, the 21-year-old was disappointed not to make further inroads over the closing stretch.
"I didn't really hole too many putts to be fair," Fitzpatrick told Sky Sports 4. "I hit my approaches pretty close, which is always nice and makes life a lot easier.
"I'm delighted to come in at six under, but I missed a few chances coming in over the last six which is a little frustrating. Still, you can't complain with six under at all.
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"I felt like it (my form) has been coming for a while to be fair and then all of a sudden I got a couple of good results. I feel like it's always been there or thereabouts but I'm now just starting to scoring really."
Fitzpatrick is part of a four-way tie for third that includes fellow Englishman Sam Hutsby, who opened with a hat-trick of birdies and briefly held the joint clubhouse lead.
Hutsby's highest result this year was a tied-34th finish at the Madeira Islands Open, but the world No 458 now looks on course to make the cut for only the sixth time this season.
"It has been a really tough year," Hutsby said. "I've missed so many cuts by one or two shots, which has been pretty costly. It will give me a confidence boost, a round like that."
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