Fitzpatrick shines to take Nordea Masters lead

3:57 PM ET

A late decision to contest the Nordea Masters could pay massive dividends for Matt Fitzpatrick after he claimed the halfway lead in Stockholm.

Sixty-two players were separated by just four shots after the first round at Bro Hof Slott Golf Club, with Fitzpatrick one shot off the six-way tie for the lead following an opening 68.

But after firing seven birdies and no bogeys in a flawless 65 on Friday, the 21-year-old Englishman found himself with a three-shot lead over compatriots Andrew Johnston and Ross Fisher, former Ryder Cup star Nicolas Colsaerts, Scotland’s Scott Henry and Sweden’s Alexander Bjork.

A second European Tour title on Sunday would see Fitzpatrick regain third place in the Ryder Cup qualifying race from Chris Wood, who won the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth last week.

“It was a last-minute scheduling thing for me,” said the former US Amateur champion, who led from start to finish in the British Masters at Woburn last year and was seventh in the Masters in April.

“I felt like I needed to play a little bit more. I knew from playing last year it’s such a great event and I heard good things about the …

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