PARIS (AP) — Matt Fitzpatrick shot a 6-under 65 on Saturday to establish a five-shot lead in the French Open, aiming for his fourth title of 2023. Tom Vaillant of France, a two-time winner on the Alps Tour, shot a 67 to secure second place, positioning him in the final group alongside Fitzpatrick for the tournament's last round.
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Fitzpatrick began strongly, making a 7-foot birdie putt on the opening hole at Le Golf National. He followed this by reaching the green in two on the par-5 third hole for another birdie, and then hitting a wedge to 4 feet for a birdie on the sixth. Fitzpatrick only recorded one bogey and finished the day at 19-under 194 after getting up-and-down from just off the 18th green.
“I feel like I’m in a position that if I go and shoot a good round tomorrow, then obviously it makes it almost impossible to catch,” Fitzpatrick stated. He noted, however, that there's a long way to go, emphasizing a hole-by-hole approach.
This year, Fitzpatrick has already claimed victories at the Valspar Championship, RBC Heritage, and partnered with his brother Alex to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. He previously struggled at the British Open, where he missed the cut, and faced challenges during the PGA Tour's postseason.
Eugenio Chacarra of Spain, ranked third in the Race to Dubai, shot a remarkable 62 and joined four other players tied for third place. Defending champion Michael Kim suffered a setback, hitting into the water on the final hole, resulting in a double bogey and a final score of 70, leaving him seven shots off the lead.
Vaillant expressed his gratitude for the support from the home crowd, stating, “It's amazing. Whatever happens tomorrow, it’s something I will never forget — the final group here in the French Open. So I’ll just try to enjoy it, and we’ll see what happens. But the main thing is enjoying tomorrow.”