Matt Fitzpatrick showed no sign of Ryder Cup hangover to lead at Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

Matt Fitzpatrick shrugged off any sign of a Ryder Cup hangover to lead by one stroke at the midway point of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The 2022 US Open champion, who earned his first point as a Ryder Cup player in Marco Simone last week, fired an eight-under par 64 in Kingsbarns to lead by a stroke from Scotland's Grant Forrest (67) and Spain’s Nacho Elvira (66).

Fitzpatrick is one of three Ryder Cup players in action, alongside Tommy Fleetwood and Robert MacIntyre, who are two and three under par at the halfway point.

"I felt like we really enjoyed it out there," said Fitzpatrick, who will play St Andrews in round three. "We both like the golf course, Kingsbarns. Very relaxed atmosphere. Compared to Carnoustie, you can kind of coast a little bit more.

"Of the three, I do like Kingsbarns. I just think that's the most enjoyable with the views, the hole designs. I like that one most. That’s the only one I felt any affinity to.

"I think I said it last year, I just want to make the cut with mum and do well for the team and you never know what can happen."

Starting on the 10th, Fitzpatrick picked up shots on the 12th, 15th, 16th, first and third before birdieing four of his last five holes, with a bogey on the seventh.

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Billy Horschel and recent BMW Championship winner Ryan Fox are also in the mix on nine under, tied for sixth place.

Tom McKibbin is best of the Irish quartet, shooting a second-round 67 at the Old Course at St Andrews.

The Hollywood player, who won his maiden tour event at the European Open in June, sits six strokes adrift of the leader Fitzpatrick. He is tied-16th heading into his third round in Carnoustie on Saturday.

The tournament is played across three Scottish links courses, the Old