Alex Fitzpatrick leads Matt at European Masters

European Masters - first information leaderboard

-7 A Fitzpatrick (Eng), A Garcia-Heredia (Spa); -6 H Norlander (Swe), J Scrivener (Aus), D Huizing (Ned), M Wallace (Eng)

Selected others: -5 A Johnston (Eng), R Ramsay (Sco), S Manley (Wal); -4 S Hutsby (Eng), J Smith (Eng), M Fitzpatrick (Eng)

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England's Alex Fitzpatrick leads older relative and two-time victor Matt by 3 shots aft nan opening information of nan European Masters astatine Crans-sur-Sierre.

Alex Fitzpatrick carded an awesome 63 successful Switzerland, which included 7 birdies successful windy conditions, to stock nan lead pinch Spain's Alfredo Garcia-Heredia connected 7 nether par.

Four players, including England's Matt Wallace, are tied successful 3rd connected six under.

"I played really nicely," said Alex Fitzpatrick.

"The first 5 aliases six holes were reasonably brutal, I deliberation it was gusting astatine 25-30mph aliases immoderate it was.

"I sewage nan bully broadside of nan tie to beryllium honest. This greeting was sadistic and luckily nan past 8 aliases 9 holes location was not overmuch wind, truthful it was bully to capitalise connected nan opportunities I had and hopefully nan aforesaid tomorrow."

Former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick, who is aiming to emulate nan precocious Seve Ballesteros arsenic a three-time European Masters, vanished connected 66.

"Happy pinch a bully start, I would person taken it this greeting erstwhile I woke up and it was pouring," said Matt Fitzpatrick, who won nan title successful 2017 and 2018.

"It's 1 of my favourite places to beryllium but it wasn't really this morning. It was horrible; warming up successful nan rainfall and you get retired location and it's pouring, you don't consciousness for illustration nan shot is going very far.

"Fortunately pinch that nan greens are a small spot softer truthful you tin beryllium a spot much fierce but it was rather tricky."