Alex Fitzpatrick is hoping a new-found focus on the mental side of his golf game can move him closer to a maiden DP World Tour title after keeping himself in contention heading into the weekend at the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed.
The Englishman - younger brother of Major Championship and Ryder Cup winner Matt - followed an opening 65 with a 71 to get to eight under at Vasatorps Golfklubb, seven shots behind halfway leader Sebastian Söderberg.
He would have been closer had it not been for a poor drive on the seventh that brought a double-bogey, his only dropped shots of the week so far.
The 25-year-old recovered admirably with a pair of birdies on the back nine and he knows that quality will be key if he is to add to the British Challenge presented by Modest! Golf Management title he won on the European Challenge Tour last season.
"It was just one bad swing," he said. "I’ve been hitting my three wood pretty nice all week. It went out of nowhere just miles left. The old story of take a drop, hit a decent shot that’s short and make a six.
"I was a little unhappy but I’ve worked hard with my team to not dwell on it too much and make it into a positive of (seeing) the next challenge up ahead.
"It was nice to make a couple of birdies coming in and hopefully put myself in contention for the weekend.
"I feel like I’ve been playing nicely for a while now. There’s parts of my game that still need improving. Mentally it’s something I’ve not really worked on as much and something you don’t really think about as much as the rest of your game.
"But I’ve got an amazing group of people around me. I’m very lucky. That’s one thing we’re focusing on at the moment, a bit of mindset. I’ll try and take that into the weekend and see what happens.
"Mental health is a difficult subject. I think for me on the golf course, it’s not a case of beating myself up, it’s just not thinking too far ahead. I spend a lot of time, or used to spend a lot of time, thinking about what will happen after 72 holes, as opposed to the shot in front of me.
"For me, it’s trying to slow myself down, think about every shot at a time and take it as it comes."
