Matt Wallace and Matt Fitzpatrick's Younger Brother Among Qualifiers for British Open
MERSEYSIDE, England — England’s Matt Wallace found something in the second round of the Travelers Championship two weeks ago and has built on it ever since, culminating with a 7-under 65 in the afternoon round of the British Open qualifier at West Lancashire Golf Club to secure his fourth appearance.
Joining Wallace as qualifiers Tuesday out of the seaside course just 18 miles away from Royal Liverpool are professionals Matthew Jordan of England, South African Kyle Barker and England’s Alex Fitzpatrick as well as German amateur Tiger Christensen.
At 33 years old, Wallace has spent the last five years playing on the PGA Tour, so getting back into links golf takes a little work.
Luckily for Wallace, he got some invaluable assistance from Ian Finnis, Tommy Fleetwood’s caddie, who is a member of West Lancashire.
“It was every hole,” Wallace said. “He basically told us about every hole, how we should play. It really gave us some really good knowledge, you know, from a caddie point of view ... it's brilliant.”
But the intel can only go so far as Wallace was in control of his golf ball for most of the day and when he strayed offline, he understood you can get out of position in links golf, so he took his medicine and went on.
“At the end, I wanted to win this thing,” Wallace said when asked if he was scoreboard watching. “I think I was one clear, and no one could catch me and played it nicely at the end.”
For Fitzpatrick, his 7-under 65 on Tuesday afternoon provided him with a pathway to play in his first major championship—and, of course, a chance to match his game with his big brother, U.S. Open champion Matthew Fitzpatrick.
“Kind of almost at a loss for words, really,” Fitzpatrick said after a 10-under performance. “I feel like I've worked pretty hard for a long time and haven't felt like I've gotten a lot out of the work I've put in. Today was just a lot of patience and I managed to stay calm and even after a few bogeys and stuff, just kind of kept myself in it.”
For Jordan, a member at Royal Liverpool, he was in familiar place, just up the road from his home course and with many well-wishers following him along in a group that included Sergio Garcia and Jamie Donaldson. In the end, Jordan was the showstopper qualifying for his first Open Championship.
“I've been a member there since I was 7,” Jordan said. “My dad is a member. my granddad's been a member. I just know everyone there. All my friends that I play with, so yeah, it did matter more than kind of the previous times that I've tried to qualify for this, even though you know, it is brilliant. So, I don't want to take anything away from it. It just has that sentimental value."
With winners came losers and for the field of 72—46 professionals and 26 amateurs—only five moved on to Royal Liverpool.
The most recognizable loser was Garcia, who will have his streak broken of 23 consecutive Opens dating to 1999.
Others that missed of note are Graeme McDowell and Jamie Donaldson.
“You can play well and make it, and you can play maybe not as well and miss it,” Garcia said. “So, if you if you're willing to put yourself in that spot, there's gonna be a little bit of disappointment for sure. Because I felt like I had a very, very close, I had it in the grasp of my hand.”