Fitzpatrick and Hojgaard open strong at the Belfry as Ryder Cup race heats up

Matt Fitzpatrick and Rasmus Hojgaard lit up the opening round of the Betfred British Masters at The Belfry, with both men knowing their Ryder Cup hopes could hinge on their performances this week.

Home favourite Fitzpatrick delivered a sparkling 67, carding seven birdies against two bogeys to sit one shot off the lead. The 30-year-old, who memorably claimed his maiden DP World Tour title at this very event in 2015, is chasing one of captain Luke Donald’s six wildcard picks for Europe’s team at Bethpage Black next month.

“I’m here to play well and get off to a good start,” Fitzpatrick told the DP World Tour. “Outside of winning a major, the Ryder Cup is normally the first thing on a goal sheet at the start of the year. It means the world to be a part of it.”

Fitzpatrick trails a quartet of early leaders on six under par – Marcel Siem, Matthias Schwab, Thomas Aiken and Haotong Li. He shares second place with Keita Nakajima, while Scot Ewen Ferguson and Englishman Matt Wallace lurk a shot further back.

While Fitzpatrick is auditioning for Donald’s trust, Hojgaard has a more direct target in sight. The Dane opened with a 69, three under par, to launch his bid for an automatic place in Europe’s side. Currently sitting outside the top six on the Ryder Cup qualification standings, Hojgaard needs nothing less than a tie for 29th or better to leapfrog Shane Lowry, who occupies the final automatic slot but is absent from this week’s tournament.

At the close of day one, Hojgaard sat in a tie for 12th, alongside five others, including his twin brother Nicolai. The 24-year-old knows what is at stake: if he can hold his position or climb further, he will book his ticket to New York without relying on Donald’s discretion.

The Ryder Cup race adds a dramatic edge to an already prestigious tournament. Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre and Tyrrell Hatton have already cemented their places, leaving only Lowry’s automatic berth up for grabs. Donald will announce his six captain’s picks on 1 September, live on Sky Sports, completing the 12-man team.

Fitzpatrick, a nine-time DP World Tour winner and 2022 US Open champion, admitted that pressure lingers over his performance this week. “We’ve got a great opportunity to do something we haven’t done in a while,” he said, pointing to Europe’s determination to reclaim the Ryder Cup after their 2021 defeat at Whistling Straits. “To be part of that would be special.”

For Hojgaard, the path is clearer but no less daunting. His solid first round leaves him well within striking distance of the leaders, but with every shot crucial, the margin for error is razor-thin. A stumble could see Lowry cling to his spot, forcing Hojgaard to depend on the captain’s judgement.

The Belfry, with its rich Ryder Cup history, provides the perfect backdrop for such high-stakes drama. Its iconic Brabazon Course has witnessed Europe’s triumphs and heartbreaks, and this week it may again play a decisive role in shaping the team that heads to Bethpage.

With the leaderboard tightly packed and Ryder Cup fates hanging in the balance, all eyes will remain fixed on Sutton Coldfield as Friday’s play resumes. Fitzpatrick is aiming to prove his enduring class, while Hojgaard fights to secure his breakthrough moment on Europe’s biggest stage