Major champion forced out of Olympic Golf Competition ahead of final round

Former US Open champion and Team GB’s Matt Fitzpatrick has been forced out of the Olympic Golf Tournament ahead of the final round at Le Golf National in Paris.

Team GB’s Matt Fitzpatrick has been forced to withdraw ahead of the final round of the Olympic Golf Competitionat Le Golf National in Paris.

Fitzpatrick, 29, informed tournament officials he was bowing out of tournament due to a thumb injury.

The 2022 US Open champion opened with a 2-over 73 but got himself back in contention for a chance at a medal with a brilliant 7-under 64 on Friday.

But the Englishman’s thumb strain seemingly ruined his chances on moving day as he slumped to a dismal round of 10-over 81.

He made three bogeys on the front side at 2, 5 and 8 to go out in 39 before making his sole birdie of the round at the par-4 10th.

But Fitzpatrick would go on to make a bogey at 12, a double at 13, a disastrous quad at 15 and a bogey at 17 to come home in 42.

Fitzpatrick confirmed his WD immediately after the third round, a decision no doubt made easier given he was 19 shots off the pace and 18 shots out of the medals.

The two-time PGA Tour winner was 5-over par for the tournament and down in T53 in the 60-man field.