Spectator mishap leads to Fitzpatrick making a nine

Matt Fitzpatrick battled to a round of 74 last night, but it wasn’t after an unusual episode involving a spectator on the third hole.  

The Englishman reached the third tee at one-under-par, but an errant tee shot on the tough par-4 put that in jeopardy. A much better provisional had him in shape to perhaps salvage a bogey, but that wasn’t to be the case. 

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According to Golfweek, a fan at the Valspar Championship had found what they thought was Matt Fitzpatrick’s ball. The 28-year-old didn’t want to go and identify the ball from his first shot, but a rules official informed him he had no choice but to head into the rough on the left and have a look. If the ball turned out not to be his, the US Open champ could have headed back to the fairway to play his provisional.  

Unfortunately for Fitzpatrick, the ball was his. The ball was unplayable, so he went back to the tee where he played his third shot. Things got worse still, as that ball found the water to the right of the fairway. 

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A penalty drop followed, and he would miss the green with his fifth shot. His sixth, a chip, found the green side bunker. Mercifully, his bunker shot found the putting surface to give him a fighting chance at an eight, but it took him two to get down from there. All added up, it was a nine.  

Two consecutive bogies followed, but from the sixth tee, he played the rest of his round with no bogies and three birdies, giving him a fighting chance at making the weekend. Let’s just hope he can make it through the third hole without any similar drama.

Lewis Fraser As bunkered’s Performance Editor, Lewis oversees the content that’s designed to make you a better player. From the latest gear to tuition, nutrition, strategy and more, he’s the man. A graduate of the University of Stirling, Lewis joined bunkered in 2021. Formerly a caddie at Castle Stuart Golf Links, he is a member of Bathgate Golf Club where he plays off four.

Performance Editor