Renato Paratore keen to stay flawless at British Masters and join exclusive club

Italy’s Renato Paratore is in position to join one of golf’s most exclusive clubs after maintaining his flawless form in the Betfred British Masters.
Paratore carded a bogey-free round of 66 at Close House and has not dropped a single shot in the first 54 holes of the European Tour’s full return to action for the first time since early March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The 23-year-old enjoys a one-shot lead over South Africa’s Justin Harding, who also returned a 66 on a day of low scoring, and could become the first player to win a European Tour event without a bogey since Jesper Parnevik in the 1995 Scandinavian Masters.
54 holes. 0 bogeys ✍️
Renato Paratore takes a one-shot lead going into tomorrow’s final round.#BetfredBritishMasters #GolfForGood
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 24, 2020
JT Poston won the Wyndham Championship on the PGA Tour last year without dropping a shot, the first player since Lee Trevino to do so in 1974.
“It’s a good thing to be in contention and I’ll just keep trying to play like this,” said Paratore, who won the Nordea Masters in 2017.
“I had a month after lockdown ended to practice and fortunately I live in Dubai and played a lot of rounds with a friend of mine, Guido Migliozzi, who also plays on the Tour.
“It’s good to practice with someone at the same level as you to keep your game sharp.”

Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard is two shots off the lead after also shooting 66, with England’s Dale Whitnell another stroke adrift following a 68.
Paratore held a one-shot lead overnight but had been overtaken before he could hit a ball in anger thanks to a stunning round from England’s Sam Horsfield, whose 61 set a new course record.
Horsfield only made the halfway cut with a shot to spare but raced to the turn in 30 with four birdies and an eagle and also eagled the 10th to raise the prospect of just the second 59 in European Tour history.
A run of five straight pars effectively put that out of reach but he nevertheless finished the round in style with a birdie on the 16th and a remarkable third eagle of the day on the par-five 17th.
3 eagles. 5 birdies. 61 shots.
Our new leader, @hr59sam ✍️#BetfredBritishMasters @Workday
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 24, 2020
“I actually never thought about a 59 until walking up the 18th fairway,” Horsfield said. “I missed a couple of putts on 13 and 14 from 12, 15 feet and I said to my caddie walking up 18, ‘I may as well hole it and try to shoot 59’.
“I didn’t do that but I had it going today, which was nice. I felt like the first two days I was maybe pushing a bit too hard as I haven’t played a tournament in four months.
“I spoke to a few friends last night and they said, ‘dude just go out there and play like you were playing at home, it’s literally the same’. So that’s what I tried to do today and I think it worked.”
Horsfield, who is based in Florida and revealed his best friend had tested positive for Covid-19 during the pandemic, is seeking a first European Tour title and believes he is up to the task.

“I do feel ready to win,” Horsfield added. “We’ve got qualification for the US Open (from the first five ‘UK Swing’ events) and that’s one of my main goals, to play my way into that.”
England’s Jack Senior also enjoyed a surge through the field to eight under par thanks to a 63 which included a hole-in-one from 176 yards on the 14th.
However, tournament host and club member Lee Westwood, who was in the first group out at 7.55am, was unable to get in on the act and struggled to a 72 to slip back to level par.
Latest
-
PGA Tour
Gareth Bale admits to nerves on debut at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-am
The 33-year-old, who announced his retirement from football last month, is a two-handicapper.
-
PGA Tour
Jordan Spieth wants Pebble Beach to become one of PGA Tour’s elevated events
The PGA Tour’s top players have committed to playing against each other at least 20 times a year.
-
PGA Tour
G4D Open is ‘great news’ for golfers with disabilities – Brendan Lawlor
Up to 80 players will contest the inaugural event in May.
-
PGA Tour
It’s been a battle – Rory McIlroy delighted to pip rival Patrick Reed in Dubai
The Northern Irishman birdied the final two holes at Emirates Golf Club to card a closing 68 and finish a shot ahead of Reed on 19 under par.
-
PGA Tour
Rory McIlroy holds off rival Patrick Reed with birdie on 18 to seal Dubai win
McIlroy birdied the final two holes at Emirates Golf Club to card a closing 68 and finish 19 under par.
-
PGA Tour
Rory McIlroy leads by three in bid to win his third Dubai Desert Classic title
England’s Callum Shinkwin and Dan Bradbury are McIlroy’s closest challengers heading into the final round.
-
LPGA Tour
Golf bid to increase diversity in sport improving but still has ‘long way to go’
Nicola Bennett is an ambassador for the Golf Foundation, helping to drive grassroots campaigns.
-
PGA Tour
Richard Bland boasts share of lead at halfway stage in Dubai Desert Classic
The 49-year-old returned to complete his second round on Saturday morning, carding three more birdies and a solitary bogey in his remaining 14 holes.
-
News
On this day in 2009 – Colin Montgomerie appointed Europe’s Ryder Cup captain
The Scot made eight playing appearances in the competition.
-
News
Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed set up potential showdown in Dubai
McIlroy and Reed found themselves a shot behind world number one amateur Ludvig Aberg and Ian Poulter.