Matt Fitzpatrick in frame going into final round of US PGA Championship

An English golfer was on a roll in the early stages of the US PGA Championship. ‘Long Jim’ Barnes, who emigrated to the United States from Cornwall, won this event – then in match play form – in 1916 and 1919. It was not played during the two intervening years.

Staggeringly, in more than a century that has passed since there has been no flag of St George adjacent to a US PGA winner. History will therefore not be on Matt Fitzpatrick’s side on day four at Southern Hills but it dictates how significant a success for the Yorkshireman would be.

Fitzpatrick’s third round of 67 represented a firm statement of intent at a venue he sensed did not suit his game upon initial viewing.

This was a performance typified by grit and determination. Fitzpatrick made bogey on the first two holes before steadying himself to reach the turn in par. A birdie at the 13th edged Fitzpatrick under par for the day – a strong enough position – before terrific birdies at each of the last two. Fitzpatrick’s six under par sits three from the lead, somewhat incredibly held by Mito Pereira. More of him later.

“With the start I had, it easily could have got away from me,” said Fitzpatrick. “I was really proud of the way that I battled back and didn’t really let it faze me. I would happily go back and tee off now if I could.”

Pereira, ranked 100 in the world, had only ever played in one major before this one. He missed the cut. The Chilean refuses to let his tilt at the Wanamaker Trophy fall by the wayside. Pereira would be an extraordinary winner; he even gave up golf for two years during his teens because the sport was boring him. He signed off with a birdie to complete round three’s 69. This marked his highest score of the tournament.

Will Zalatoris