Matthew Fitzpatrick is never going to excite passions in the way that Tiger or Rory can. He is a low-key player who prioritizes unerring accuracy over showboating power (though he certainly hits it far enough).
He also has a faintly aristocratic stoicism, as if King Charles had abandoned the monarchy in favour of a golfing career. Yet despite this, Fitzy has quickly emerged as one of European golf’s shining lights, standing up to the pervasive American jingoism better than most. Fitzpatrick rose to a career-high 3rd in the world following his victory in last weekend’s RBC Heritage, staring down a late Scheffler surge while defying the frat-boy chorus of ‘USA, USA’. Fitzpatrick is fast becoming one of the more unassuming Ryder Cup mascots in living memory.
Showing major mettle
Fitzy rose to prominence at the 2022 US Open, using his intimate knowledge of Brookline to hold off spirited charges from Scottie Scheffler and- in particular- Will Zalatoris. At that point, Zalatoris was emerging as a huge major threat, possessing a natural swing that earned him comparisons with Bobby Jones. Fitzpatrick held firm in the face of a hostile Massachusetts crowd, hitting an all-timer approach from a bunker to seal his win on the 72nd hole. Fitzy couldn’t build on that win, winning just once on the PGA Tour over the next three years (a meagre haul given his abilities).
Doing the maths
But all of Fitzy’s off-course preparation and analysis is starting to pay off in spades. Fitzy is like the European side’s answer to Bryson DeChambeau, relentlessly analysing every piece of his game to make little gains. His work with biochemist Dr. Sasho Mackenzie and trainer Matt Roberts has resulted in plenty more pop from the tee. Sure, he is still going to generally be behind the likes of Scheffler and Young. But those extra 15 yards or so have helped alleviate some of that distance anxiety (especially when you are as accurate as Fitzpatrick is).
Bouncing back
Fitzpatrick almost won the 2nd biggest title of his career at TPC Sawgrass, collapsing with a par-bogey finish to surrender the title to Cam Young (who himself is on a seemingly uninterrupted upward trajectory). He blinked in the face of Young’s raw power (and Ryder Cup-adjacent galleries), finding the trees on the 18th in response to Young’s humungous drive. But he showed remarkable bouncebackability the very next week, winning at the demanding Copperhead course to win his 3rd PGA Tour title. He flirted with contention at Augusta but ultimately made too many mistakes to mount a serious challenge. But this past weekend’s heroics at Harbour Town are the surest sign yet that he is a multiple major winner in waiting.
Looking to win a 2nd tartan jacket
Fitzpatrick has a strong familial connection to the idiosyncratic Harbour Town Golf Links, visiting it as a child on holiday with family. He said that he dreamed of winning the tournament before he had a concept of what a major was. He won the title in 2023 after a thrilling playoff victory over Jordan Spieth (yet another instance of him getting one over a beloved American figure). But this weekend was different, as World No.1 Scottie Scheffler- fresh off a weekend birdie bonanza at Augusta- went into overdrive to catch the plucky Englishman. The crowds took to Scheffler’s cause, hurling a barrage of pro-USA chants at the Englishman during that agonizing final hour of play. Fitzpatrick seemed to have blown it, chunking a chip shot on the 18th to fall into a playoff against the fast-finishing American Übermensch. The crowd was delirious, giddy at the prospect of seeing the all-American Scheffler vanquish the buttoned-up Fitzpatrick.
Pushing back at inevitability
But Fitzpatrick once again proved he has ice in his veins, hitting one of the greatest four irons you will ever see on the first playoff hole. It was an eerily similar feeling to Brookline, where Fitzpatrick blocked out all the external noise and just stuffed his approach. His ability to produce career-defining shots in high-pressure moments will make him an invaluable member of future Ryder Cup squads. He also got a measure of revenge for his Players implosion, rising above Cam Young into 3rd in the current world rankings (only Scotty and Rory are above him). The only negative for Fitzpatrick is that he had to wear that horrendous tartan jacket again. It’s a gaudy monstrosity that acts as weird consolation just a week after everyone chased the more esteemed Green Jacket.
