Matt Fitzpatrick carded a 69 to reach 10-under on a windy Saturday at the DS Automobiles Italian Open to take a one-shot lead into the final day.
Moving day 69 ✍️ #DS79OpendItalia pic.twitter.com/v3WnSPfaX2
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) September 17, 2022
“Really pleased with today,” said the Englishman. “We had the wind switch on the ninth and the golf course just completely changed. It was a wind we had not played in all week. To me, I just felt like if I could just hang on and just avoid bogeys, I would put myself in a good position.
“Managed to pick up a few on the back nine. Delighted to be going into tomorrow with the lead.”
Overnight leader Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland carded a 71 to slip back into a share of second place at 9-under.
“I felt like I played okay. Every birdie I made, I followed it with a bogey, so that was not good. But just when the wind got up there when we turned – I struggled with the putter all day but I think especially when the wind got up – I struggled just to sort of commit to reads, and ‘do I play the wind, do I not play the wind?’.
“I held a couple of nice ones coming in but missed a lot of opportunities there at sort of the start of the middle of the round.
“Thankfully I’m still in it. Still only one shot back. I’ll be in the final group tomorrow. So that was a big putt on the 18th to hole so I can keep an eye on Fitz and what he’s doing.
“I know it will be a tough day. Fitz is very solid. These are the sort of conditions that he relishes. He’s going to be tough to beat.”
England’s Aaron Rai carded a flawless 65 featuring two eagles at the par-5 9th and 12th for a share of second place.
Frenchman Victor Perez (69), American Kurt Kitayama (67) and Australian Lucas Herbert (68) are tied in fourth at 8-under.
Commentator "This is holeable"
Aaron Rai: ✅Two eagles in four holes and his into third place. #DS79OpendItalia pic.twitter.com/u1i43UpD47
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) September 17, 2022
