Fitzpatrick leads by one stroke over McIlroy at Italian Open

GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy (AP) — Even the wind couldn’t thwart U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick at the Italian Open.

Fitzpatrick will head into the final round in the lead and aiming to go one better than three years ago after coping with challenging conditions on Saturday to post an impressive 2-under 69 and edge clear of Rory McIlroy and Aaron Rai.

Fitzpatrick, who claimed his first major title in June at Brookline, is playing the Italian Open for the seventh time. He finished second in 2019.

“It would mean the world (to win),” Fitzpatrick said. “I love coming to play the Italian Open … I love the country. I love playing golf here. The fans are fantastic and to win tomorrow, yeah, would be a great feeling.”

He takes a one-shot lead into the final round at Marco Simone club outside Rome after three birdies in the back nine saw him move to 10-under 203.

“We had the wind switch on nine and the golf course just completely changed,” Fitzpatrick said. “It was a wind we had not played in all week.

“To me, I just felt like if I could just hang on and just avoid bogeys, I would put myself in good position. Managed to pick up a few (birdies) on the back nine. Delighted to be going into tomorrow with the lead.”

Halfway leader McIlroy started the day a shot ahead of Ryder Cup teammate Fitzpatrick but struggled in the wind and hit three bogeys. However, he salvaged his round — and possibly his tournament — by also ending with a birdie, his third of the day.

“I struggled with the putter all day but I think, especially when the wind got up, I struggled just to sort of commit to reads, and do I play the wind, do I not play the wind,” McIlroy said.

“Sort of thankfully I’m still in it. Still only one shot back. I think I’ll be in