01피츠패트릭, 중간합계 선두로 도약
잉글랜드의 매튜 피츠패트릭이 프랑스 파리의 르 골프 내셔널에서 열린 DP 월드 투어 페덱스 오픈 드 프랑스 이틀째 경기에서 단독 선두에 올랐다.
2라운드에서 보기 없는 깔끔한 플레이를 펼친 피츠패트릭은 중간합계 언더파로 리더보드 최상단에 이름을 올렸다.
추격 그룹과는 타수 차를 벌리며 주말 라운드에서 유리한 고지를 점했다.
지난해 이 대회 우승자이자 메이저 챔피언 출신인 피츠패트릭은 코스 적응력을 앞세워 타이틀 방어 가능성을 높였다.
02Original (English) — DP World Tour
Matt Fitzpatrick carded a brilliant bogey-free 64 during the fog-affected second round at Le Golf National to take a one-stroke lead over Jeff Winther at the halfway stage of the 2026 FedEx Open de France.
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The World Number Four made five birdies and an eagle on Friday afternoon before preserving his flawless card with an excellent up-and-down from the back-left of the 18th green.
"I played really solid again," said Fitzpatrick, who is making his first appearance at the event since 2018.
"Felt comfortable with my game. Just the last few holes were a bit of a grind. But, yeah, happy to be in the clubhouse."
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The start of the second round was delayed by fog on Friday morning but, once play got under way, Winther quickly became the man to catch.
With first round leader Michael Kim among the later starters, the Dane fired a bogey-free 64 of his own to reach 12 under and set the early target.
Winther, who won the Danish Golf Championship earlier this year, continued his fine record at Le Golf National, where he finished tied eighth in 2022 and joint runner-up in both 2023 and 2024.
“I love coming here,” he said after his round.
“This is one of my favourites of the year. I've got a lot of great memories from here, hitting great shots, making a lot of birdies. It's just trekking along, hitting fairways, hitting greens. And the greens are great.
“I think I just love this place too much.”
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Fitzpatrick, playing in the afternoon, made four birdies on the front nine to move quickly into contention. After four straight pars from the turn, he then joined Winther at the summit with an eagle at the par-five 14th before holing a 27-footer at the 16th to take the outright lead.
He parred the 17th but slipped while playing his approach to the last, sending the ball long and left of the water-surrounded green and leaving himself a difficult up-and-down.
Fitzpatrick responded by playing his next shot to four feet before converting the par putt to sign for a flawless 64 and a 36-hole total of 13 under.
"Yeah, the shot itself, we were wondering whether to go for it. I was kind of happy to go for it. Took the extra club just to make sure.
And then as I took my backswing, I felt my right foot slip. So I kind of obviously was then in search for the ball, I kind of throw my right arm and managed to sort of make contact, it's just gone a long way and a long way left.
But, yeah, obviously nice to be in the fairway, be able to have some control on the ball and hit one in close."
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Defending champion Michael Kim, who claimed his maiden DP World Tour crown at this event 12 months ago at Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche as Le Golf National underwent extensive renovations, sits a shot further back.
The American had a mix of fortunes on Friday but still sits just two behind on 11-under-par, mixing six birdies with three bogeys to add a 66 to his opening 63.
"Yeah, it wasn't perfect golf like yesterday, but I felt like I made a good fight out of it," he said.
"And overall I'm happy with where I'm at. I didn't get off to the best start. Swing didn't feel as good as yesterday. But I'm really happy. I feel like I figured some things out during the middle of the round today. And just a little unfortunate bogey coming in. But I think I have a good chance to win this tournament for the weekend."
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Fellow American Ryan Gerard and Frenchman Tom Vaillant currently share fourth on ten under, with Angel Hidalgo, Marcel Siem, Thriston Lawrence and Gregorio De Leo in a share of sixth place at nine under.
The round was overnight suspended at 19.55pm local time due to darkness, with play set to restart at 8.45am. Round three will be a two tee start in three balls and will not start before 10am.
The cut is currently projected to be -3, with 66 players sitting at three under or better.