Fleetwood Out Sick as Fitzpatrick Leads Open de France

Tommy Fleetwood will not tee it up at the Open de France on Saturday. The Englishman withdrew ahead of the third round after feeling unwell, tournament organizers said in a brief statement posted on the DP World Tour website. No further details were given, according to Golf Channel, which reported the news on Saturday morning.

Fleetwood, the two-time major runner-up, was six under par after the second round of the Open de France on Friday and sat well inside the top 20. His withdrawal removes one of the marquee names from the weekend at Le Golf National, the course outside Paris that hosted the 2018 Ryder Cup. Golf Channel described the Englishman as a Ryder Cup star, and his absence opens a path for the players stacked behind Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick carries a one-shot lead into the third round

The Englishman starts Saturday one shot clear of the field. The world No. 4 shot a bogey-free 64 on Friday to reach 13 under, one shot clear of Denmark's Jeff Winther. It was his lowest round of the week, matched only by Winther's 64.

The round nearly came apart on the 18th. Fitzpatrick said his right foot slipped as he started his backswing on the approach, forcing him to throw his right arm at the ball. It sailed long and left of the water-guarded green, but he pitched to four feet and holed the par putt to keep the card clean. The save preserved a lead he has held since Friday evening.

Winther and Kim stay within reach

Jeff Winther matched Fitzpatrick's 64 on Friday to reach 12 under, one shot back. The Dane kept himself in the final group for the third round of the Open de France with steady ball-striking through 36 holes.

Defending champion Michael Kim sits alone in third at 11 under after a 3-under 68 that ended with a bogey on the last hole. Kim opened with a 63 to hold the first-round lead. He won his first DP World Tour title at this event a year ago, although the 2025 edition was staged at Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche while Le Golf National underwent renovations. His return to contention at the Open de France gives the weekend an American presence near the top.

Gerard and Vaillant lead the chasing pack

Ryan Gerard is three shots off the lead at 10 under after a 6-under 65 on Friday. It is the second week in a row the American has been in contention at a big DP World Tour event. Last week he led by two shots at the halfway point of the BMW PGA Championship before fading to a tie for 27th.

Gerard was not among U.S. captain Brandt Snedeker's six captain's picks for the Presidents Cup, a snub he shares with J.J. Spaun, who responded by winning at Wentworth.

Frenchman Tom Vaillant joins Gerard at 10 under, giving the home crowd a player to follow through the weekend. Angel Hidalgo, Marcel Siem, Thriston Lawrence and Gregorio De Leo sit a shot further back at nine under.

Cut falls, darkness delays play, and a Ryder Cup echo

The cut claimed several notable names. Cameron Smith's Open de France ended after two double bogeys in his last three holes left him at two over par, according to Yahoo Sports. Carlos Ortiz also missed the weekend at one over. The cut line fell at three under, with 66 players making it through.

Friday's second round was suspended at 7:55 p.m. local time because of darkness and resumed at 8:45 a.m. on Saturday. The third round is being played in three-balls off two tees and did not start before 10 a.m. local time.

There is a Ryder Cup thread running through the week. Le Golf National hosted the 2018 edition, which Europe won, and several European players made a scouting trip to Adare Manor with captain Luke Donald a year out from the 2027 contest in Ireland. Ludvig Aberg, who is also in the Open de France field this week, was among them. The trip underscored how quickly attention is shifting toward Adare Manor, even with the Open de France still up for grabs.

Read Golf Channel's report on Fleetwood's withdrawal from the Open de France.