England's Fitzpatrick takes temporary US PGA membership

Britain's Matthew Fitzpatrick has accepted a US PGA Tour special temporary membership with an eye to winning enough money to claim a full-season spot for the 2018-19 campaign. The 23-year-old Englishman is a four-time winner on the European Tour, his most recent triumph coming in last September's European Masters, and ranks 39th in the world. Fitzpatrick shared 12th at last week's US Open at Shinnecock, his performance lifting him beyond the points threshold needed for membership for the remainder of the season. The membership allows Fitzpatrick unlimited sponsor exemptions as he tries to perform well enough to secure his card for next season, but he would need a victory in a tour event to become eligible for this year's season-ending US PGA playoffs. Fitzpatrick becomes the third player to accept special US PGA temporary membership status this season, joining Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Chile's Joaquin Niemann. Fitzpatrick's best showing in 13 major starts was a share of seventh at the 2016 Masters.