GULLANE, Scotland (AP) - Matthew Fitzpatrick started the British Open being mistaken for Tiger Woods' ball-carrier on the range. He ended it taking home a silver medal for the top amateur and being hailed as the latest prodigy in British golf.

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Fitzpatrick's birth certificate says he is 18 but the fresh-faced youth did not look out of place as he confidently covered Muirfield this week.

Playing alongside Fred Couples - a man nearly three times his age - Fitzpatrick shot a 1-over 72 on Sunday for an overall score of 10 over, beating fellow amateur and compatriot Jimmy Mullen by five shots.

Fitzpatrick says ``I can't imagine any other amateur event ever being as hard as the course we've played this week.''

He now heads to Chicago to play for Northwestern.