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Dates:<\/strong> Thu 20-Sun 23 July <\/span>Venue:<\/strong> Royal Liverpool, Hoylake<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n| Coverage:<\/strong> Live radio and text commentary on BBC Sport website, with video clips each day. Daily highlights programme on BBC Two from 20:00 BST<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n | While winning this week’s Open would “mean the world” to Matt Fitzpatrick, he says he is coming into his “weakest major” with “realistic” expectations.<\/span><\/p>\n The 28-year-old, who won the US Open in 2022, is trying to become the first Englishman to win the title since Nick Faldo won his third Claret Jug in 1992.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n “A good finish, all jokes aside, would be top 30,” said Fitzpatrick.<\/span><\/p>\n “I’ve not played well in Opens, and I wouldn’t say I’m in the best form, so I’ve got to be realistic.”<\/span><\/p>\n Fitzpatrick has a best finish in golf’s oldest major of joint 20th at Royal Portrush in 2019, although he won the silver medal as low amateur a decade ago at Muirfield.<\/span><\/p>\n And he arrives at Royal Liverpool in Hoylake on the back of a missed cut at last week’s Scottish Open.<\/span><\/p>\n “Don’t get me wrong, I love playing great links golf courses. There’s loads of great places. It’s just for me it doesn’t necessarily suit my eye,” added the Sheffield golfer.<\/span><\/p>\n “I would argue The Open is my weakest major, so my expectations have probably got to match my results.<\/span><\/p>\n “I’ve got to be realistic about where I am, where my game is. No, it’s not where I would like it to be. I think everyone would like to be playing golf like Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler right now, but that’s pretty rare for the rest of us.”<\/span><\/p>\n For the first time since 2015 at St Andrews, there will be siblings in the 156-strong field with Matt’s younger brother Alex having come through final qualifying a fortnight ago, while Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard secured a spot at the Scottish Open to join his brother Rasmus on the Wirral.<\/span><\/p>\n “I’ve almost wanted to give Francesco and Edoardo [Molinari, the Italian brothers who played in 2015] a call and ask them what it’s like, what’s the dynamic like between you? Is it weird?” said Matt Fitzpatrick, who is sharing a house with Alex and their parents this week.<\/span><\/p>\n “People think ‘oh he’s got to be like his brother and stuff’, when actually we are polar opposites, both on and off the course.<\/span><\/p>\n “On paper my strengths are driving and putting and his strengths are short game and approach play. Then off the golf course, yeah, we are just literally polar opposites. I’m like a control freak, OCD, organised and he’s not.<\/span><\/p>\n “Fortunately my parents are there to take care of him,” he laughed.<\/span><\/p>\n When asked what advice a major champion has given to his brother appearing in his first, Matt said: “He came last week to play 18, which I think was helpful, see the golf course, no stress, no rush, and then I just told him take these next few days easy, nine holes each day.<\/span><\/p>\n “I remember speaking to my coach about what to do at my first Open back in 2013, and that’s what he stressed, don’t tire yourself out. <\/span><\/p>\n “I think I played nine Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, so I think that’s kind of similar to what Alex should do.<\/span><\/p>\n |