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Matt Fitzpatrick Off to Rough Start in U.S. Open Title Defense

The Englishman had to return his trophy to the USGA on Monday, then shot a 71 on Thursday.
Alex Miceli|
Matt Fitzpatrick Off to Rough Start in U.S. Open Title Defense
Matt Fitzpatrick Off to Rough Start in U.S. Open Title Defense

LOS ANGELES - Matthew Fitzpatrick’s U.S. Open title defense was derailed on Thursday at Los Angeles Country Club as the Englishman started with consecutive bogeys and shot a 1-over 71.

Adding insult to injury, after signing his card, Fitzpatrick was invited to give a urine sample for a drug test.

When notified, his knees buckled and his head dropped.

Playing in the afternoon, Fitzpatrick started his defense with consecutive bogeys, including a three-putt on the first hole, and spent the rest of the round attempting to dig himself out of his poor start.

“I was so sad about that,” Fitzpatrick said on Monday about his unhappiness in giving the trophy back. “I didn't feel like I spent enough time with it, really.”

Sitting at T56 and nine shots behind leaders Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele, if Fitzpatrick wants the trophy back, he will first have to make the cut before looking to the leaderboard.

Fitzpatrick will tee off on the 10th tee with Australian Cameron Smith and Sam Bennett at 8:02 am.

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Alex Miceli
ALEX MICELI

Alex Miceli, a journalist and radio/TV personality who has been involved in golf for 26 years, was the founder of Morning Read and eventually sold it to Buffalo Groupe. He continues to contribute writing, podcasts and videos to SI.com. In 1993, Miceli founded Golf.com, which he sold in 1999 to Quokka Sports. One year later, he founded Golf Press Association, an independent golf news service that provides golf content to news agencies, newspapers, magazines and websites. He served as the GPA’s publisher and chief executive officer. Since launching GPA, Miceli has written for numerous newspapers, magazines and websites. He started GolfWire in 2000, selling it nine years later to Turnstile Publishing Co.

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