US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick in contention for victory at the Scottish Open

Michael Campbell admitted there were days when he struggled to get out of bed after winning the 2005 US Open. The engaging Kiwi would never win another stroke play tournament on either the PGA or the DP World Tours.

By stark contrast, Matt Fitzpatrick looks like he has moved on already from his epic success in the same event at Brookline. He might even win his very next event.

The dedicated 27-year-old from Sheffield positively leapt out of the sack for his early tee-time yesterday and overcame being comfortably in the wrong half of the draw to move into contention at joint fourth after two rounds of the Genesis Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club.

Not even a bogey-bogey finish could dampen his spirits as he signed for a four-under-par 66 and a three-under total of 137.

Fitzpatrick, who lost a play-off for this event last year, revelled in the locals welcoming him on to each tee and shouting their vocal encouragement following his maiden major success.

When it came to sheer euphoria on this day, however, there was only one winner, after fellow Englishman Jordan Smith aced the par three 17th with a six iron to finish alongside Fitzpatrick.

Smith was chuffed enough, of course, with the £60,000 car he won courtesy of the sponsor but it did not compare with the joy of his caddie Sam Matton, who also won a handsome new automobile worth £50,000.

Matton tried for five years to make it as a pro himself, before quitting and having a stab at teaching others to play. ‘It didn’t suit me at all,’ he said. For the last six years he has been a popular member of the caddie fraternity and they were queuing up to embrace him outside the clubhouse and revel in his good fortune. ‘I think there might be a Guinness or two in my future,’ he said.

Matton had been driving around in a nine-year-old BMW with plenty of miles on the clock. ‘Funnily enough, I’d been looking for a new car and it looks now as if my search is over,’ added the Swindon man.

Both Smith and Fitzpatrick emerged from the half of the draw where the stronger breezes added up to a handicap of more than three shots.

At one point it looked as if it would leave them with plenty of ground to make up as American Cameron Tringale followed up his opening 61 with two early birdies to open up a big advantage at 11 under.

There is a reason, though, why the 34-year-old Californian has never won in more than 330 events on the PGA Tour and perhaps it showed as he went on a bogey-strewn run, spilling five shots in six holes to give plenty of hope to the chasing pack. He finished with a 72 for seven under and a three-shot lead over Gary Woodland and Doug Ghim.

World No 1 Scottie Scheffler headed a starry cast who will move on early to St Andrews for the 150th Open after missing the cut. He was joined by defending Open champion Collin Morikawa, Will Zalatoris and Ian Poulter, whose successful legal challenge to get into the Scottish Open brought little benefit.