Matthew Fitzpatrick can build on final-hole eagle by claiming sixth Tour title

TV: Sky Sports Golf, 12pm Sunday

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Erik van Rooyen has given himself another chance to shed his European Tour maiden tag, the South African making birdie at the final hole of round three to reach 13 under par in the Scandinavian Invitation and take a one-shot lead into Sunday at the Hills GC, Gothenburg.

Van Rooyen, who turns 30 in February, has won on the Sunshine Tour and the Challenge Tour, but has never been able to get over the line in front in a higher grade. He has finished second three times, including twice this year – in the Qatar Masters and the Hassan Trophy.

Van Rooyen, a best-price 16-1 ante-post for success in Sweden this week, is joint 9-4 favourite with his final-round playing partner Matthew Fitzpatrick going into the closing 18 holes.

Fitzpatrick, two shots clear at the halfway stage of the event, suffered some setbacks down the stretch in round three, but the gutsy Sheffield lad rolled in an eagle putt from off the green at the 18th hole to propel himself back into the thick of things. Pre-tournament market leader Henrik Stenson shares fifth place, three shots behind Van Rooyen.

Leaderboard
-13 Erik van Rooyen
-12 Wade Ormsby, Ashun Wu, Matthew Fitzpatrick
-10 Dean Burmester, Jamie Donaldson, Gavin Moynihan, Alexander Levy, Henrik Stenson

Best prices
9-4 M Fitzpatrick, E van Rooyen, 8 H Stenson, 10 W Ormsby, A Wu, 25 A Levy, 35 D Burmester, 40 T Detry, 45 J Donaldson, 66 bar

Final-round advice

Erik van Rooyen is a mild-mannered character who has shown a lack of killer instinct when in contention for European Tour titles and punters will not be rushing to support the maiden at short prices for the Scandinavian Invitation.

The last time Van Rooyen played in the final pairing on a Sunday was at the Scottish Open in the middle of last month and he carded a quadruple-bogey eight at the second hole to destroy his chances almost immediately. He dropped from second place to 14th over the final 18 holes and was the only finisher in the top 47 on the final leaderboard who was over-par for round four.

Of course, all players can stumble in horrific fashion, but it has happened so many times to Van Rooyen that he has much to prove regarding both his mental strength and his short-game. His chipping can be awful and his putting inconsistent, often ruining stellar ball-striking.

And the last thing Van Rooyen wanted to see after he had signed his third-round scorecard and beamed his way through post-round interviews was Matthew Fitzpatrick conjuring an amazing eagle from the fairway bunker to move within a shot of the lead.

Fitzpatrick had lost his way a little coming home, suffering a double-bogey at the 16th to drop out of a share of the lead, but the last-gasp surge got his Scandinavian Invitation campaign right back on track. This fierce competitor has won five European Tour titles, including this event in 2016, and he is five years younger than his market rival.

While Van Rooyen has usually got uncomfortable in the heat of a Sunday battle, Fitzpatrick typically thrives, which is why his mantelpiece is so full at such a young age. A hot, sunny, calm final-day forecast, with a bit more run on the ball expected, is just what the doctor would have ordered for Fitzpatrick before a duel with Van Rooyen.

A one-shot buffer is probably not going to be enough for Van Rooyen to repel Fitzpatrick. Plenty of putts have been rolling in for Van Rooyen over the first three days, but extreme Sunday tension could easily see a sharp cooling on the greens.

Fitzpatrick should be clear favourite and punters who backed the Racing Post Sport ante-post headline selection at 9-1 are advised to keep the faith. Henrik Stenson and Thomas Detry may join Van Rooyen as the main challengers to Fitzpatrick, but the sweet-swinging Yorkshireman can edge home in front.

The final-round twoball card is unappealing and punters looking for further investments should consider the 10-11 about Stenson finishing in the top five. The Swede, who has played a light schedule of late and is always highly motivated when performing in front of home galleries, can be expected to have full focus for the duration of round four.

Even if Fitzpatrick and Van Rooyen prove too difficult to overcome, Stenson should thrive in his high-class twoball with Thomas Detry and cement his position in the top five from his current five-way share of fifth.

The final twoball of Van Rooyen and Wade Ormsby tees off at 12.06pm UK and Ireland time. Fitzpatrick and Ashun Wu are out at 11.56am.

Recommendation
H Stenson top-five finish
2pts 10-11 Betway, Sky Bet

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