Ryder cup rookie Fitzpatrick fights back at European Masters

Sheffield golfer and Ryder Cup rookie Matt Fitzpatrick continued his brilliant fightback when the European Masters resumed at Crans-sur-Sierre on Saturday.

Fitzpatrick played the first 14 holes of his opening round in seven over parbefore eventually signing for a five-over 75, which was hardly the ideal way to celebrate his 22nd birthday.

The world number 48 was still four over par for the tournament with five holes of his second round remaining, but he birdied the 14th, 15th, 17th and 18th to make the halfway cut with nothing to spare.

And Fitzpatrick carried on where he left off in round three, recovering from abogey on the second with five birdies in the next 10 holes on his way to a 66.

That still left the former US Amateur champion with his work cut out to match his runners-up finish from last year, but it was nevertheless a welcome boost to

European captain Darren Clarke with the Ryder Cup just four weeks away.<

Fitzpatrick's team-mates Danny Willett, Lee Westwood and Chris Wood were also all four under par at various stages of their rounds, with defending champion

Willett going to the turn in 33 before dropping a shot on the 10th for thesecond day running.

Playing partner Wood had birdied the second and third before a bogey on the eighth, while Westwood had reached the turn in 32 before dropping a shot on the 11th.