Matt Fitzpatrick of England kept his flawless start at the FedEx Open de France intact on Friday, propelling himself into the solo lead at Le Golf National after a spectacular round. Following a pristine 65 on Thursday, Fitzpatrick added an eagle and five birdies to post a seven‑under‑par 64 on Friday afternoon, moving to 13 under overall and edging past Jeff Winther by a single stroke. Both Fitzpatrick and Winther matched the day’s lowest score, guaranteeing their places in the final group scheduled for Saturday. Defending champion Michael Kim, who had led after the first round, fell two shots behind after carding a three‑under‑par 68.
American Ryan Gerard remained three shots off the pace, sharing fifth place with France’s Tom Vaillant, while Germany’s Marcel Siem posted a second‑round 64 to join Thriston Lawrence and Angel Hidalgo within four strokes of the leader. Veteran Viktor Hovland sat six shots back, with Tommy Fleetwood a further shot adrift. French hopeful Victor Perez, despite an exciting hole‑in‑one on the par‑three 11th during his second round of 71, appeared destined to miss the cut. Playing alongside his Ryder Cup teammates Hovland and Ludvig Åberg, Fitzpatrick built on his strong opening day by capitalising on the par‑five third hole and then adding another close‑range birdie on the fourth.
He missed a good chance on the fifth, but rebounded by sinking a six‑foot putt on the par‑four sixth. A birdie on the par‑five ninth pushed his total to ten under, and he reached the turn in 32 strokes. After a missed birdie opportunity on the tenth, Fitzpatrick surged back alongside clubhouse leader Winther when he holed a 15‑foot putt for an eagle on the par‑five 14th. He then produced a 25‑foot birdie on the 16th, reclaiming the outright lead.
On the final hole, a slip on his approach to the par‑four 18th could have been costly, but Fitzpatrick recovered with an impressive up‑and‑down from the fairway, preserving his one‑stroke advantage over Winther. "I played really solid again and felt comfortable with my game," Fitzpatrick said after his round. "The last few holes were a bit of a grind, but I’m happy to be in the clubhouse." The Englishman, already a three‑time PGA Tour winner this season, emphasized the consistency of his performance.
Winther, who posted seven birdies in his bogey‑free round, stayed within striking distance, while Kim, who had been level with him at 12 under after the front nine, faltered on the final hole after two attempts from a greenside bunker resulted in a bogey. "It wasn’t perfect golf like yesterday, but I felt I made a good fight out of it and overall I’m happy with where I am," Kim reflected. "I didn’t get off to the best start and the swing didn’t feel as good as yesterday. A little unfortunate bogey coming in, but I think I have a good chance to win this tournament for the weekend." Eugenio Chacarra, who entered the week ranked third in the Race to Dubai, sat at four under after rounds of 70 and 68.
Perez, despite his spectacular ace, missed the cut after a disappointing finish that included a triple‑bogey on his final hole, leaving him two under and out of contention. The tournament continues on Saturday with live coverage from midday on Sky Sports Golf. Viewers can also follow the action via the NOW streaming service, which offers a contract‑free option.
Golf enthusiasts looking to book a round can explore over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland through the provided search tool, though no results were returned for the current query. As the FedEx Open de France heads into its final day, the battle for the title remains wide open.
Fitzpatrick’s steady play and ability to convert key birdie and eagle opportunities have positioned him as the frontrunner, but the field is deep, with seasoned competitors like Hovland, Fleetwood, and the defending champion Kim all capable of mounting a comeback. The next round promises high drama, as players navigate the challenging layout of Le Golf National, known for its demanding bunkers, water hazards, and strategic pin placements. Fans can expect a thrilling conclusion, with the potential for more ace moments, dramatic swings, and the ever‑present possibility of a surprise contender emerging from the pack.
Whether Fitzpatrick can maintain his momentum or a late surge from a rival will decide the champion of this prestigious French Open, a key event on the European Tour calendar.