Matt Fitzpatrick was relishing being in "proper" contention to win a Major for the first time in his career after a 67 left him just three shots off the lead heading into the final round of the 2022 US PGA Championship.
The Englishman has been a prolific winner on the DP World Tour ever since he came through the Qualifying School in 2014, claiming seven victories in as many completed seasons, including a Rolex Series win as he lifted the trophy at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai for the second time in 2020.
That consistency has seen him finish in the top five on the DP World Tour Rankings in Partnership with Rolex for the last three seasons, so it is perhaps a surprise he has registered just one top ten in 27 Major appearances.
And while he looks likely to make that two at Southern Hills Country Club, the 27-year-old is gunning for more than just a good finish in Oklahoma.
The swing of @MattFitz94 👀 pic.twitter.com/Kjgq46DeoX
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) May 21, 2022
"I'm looking forward to tomorrow," he said. "Whatever happens, I've played well for three rounds at least.
"I've had the experience of being in the lead before in Europe, obviously a Major is completely different and this is my first time ever in proper contention at a Major.
"I'm just looking forward to tomorrow and going out there and doing the same things I've been doing all week and trying to stay as level as possible.
"I've spoke about it with my coaches at length about my Major record. I've always just said to them, I just want to give myself a chance, because I backed myself at the end of the day.
"I feel like whenever I've had a chance in Europe, I've played very well. Even over here when I've had chances to win, if you really look, I've not had that many chances to win. But when I have, I've played well. I've not lost it.
I'm just looking forward to it more than anything. It's a chance to win
"I'm just looking forward to it more than anything. It's a chance to win, I'll happily go tee off now if we can."
The two-time Ryder Cup star started bogey-bogey in round three but holed a bunker shot on the fifth and holed from 18 feet on the next to get back level on the day.
Another bogey followed but Fitzpatrick put his approach to four feet on the ninth and then really came to life on the way home.
He made a two-putt birdie on the par-five 13th before getting up and down from the sand at the driveable 17th and then making a smart 15-footer on the last to play his way into the final group on Sunday.
"With the start that I had, it's easy it could get away from me," he said. "I was just really proud of the way that I battled back and didn't really let it faze me, so obviously a very good round in the end."
