Former main champion Matt Fitzpatrick insists he’s “on the right track” heading into this week’s US Open, having skilled a dramatic droop in type over the previous 12 months.
Fitzpatrick claimed a maiden main title with a one-shot victory within the 2022 US Open at Brookline earlier than registering victories on each the PGA Tour and DP World Tour the next season, the place he was additionally a part of Europe’s Ryder Cup success in Rome.
The Englishman was world No 16 finally 12 months’s US Open at Pinehurst No 2 however has registered simply two worldwide prime 20 finishes since, leaving him eightieth on the planet rankings and 79th within the FedExCup standings heading into this week’s contest at Oakmont – stay from Thursday on Sky Sports activities Golf.
Fitzpatrick briefly contended through the last spherical of the PGA Championship final month earlier than ending tied-sixth, seven strokes behind Scottie Scheffler, with the 30-year-old trying to construct on his finest end of the 12 months over the remainder of the season.
“It [PGA Championship] gave me massive confidence,” Fitzpatrick instructed the Sky Sports activities Golf podcast. “It was a bizarre feeling coming off the 18th as a result of I used to be delighted with the end, however on the identical time dissatisfied with my previous couple of holes.
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“I hit so many nice pictures over the course of the week, I simply hit a few poor ones and unusually for me I simply missed a few putts. Impulsively, I gap these, I feel I might have completed in tied-second and clearly it is a completely different week.
“I came away in a much better frame of mind from a great week and played really well all week. It’s the world’s most annoying game, but I definitely feel like I’m on the right track. I definitely think things are going better.
“I really feel like I’ve obtained extra confidence in my sport, extra confidence in what I am doing. I really feel like I’ve simply obtained to type of lean into that a bit bit extra now and belief that and doubtless, in a approach, be a bit extra aggressive to attempt to go after it and get some wins actually.”
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Watch the important thing moments from Scottie Scheffler’s last spherical on the PGA Championship, the place he claimed a 3rd main victory
How Fitzpatrick claimed US Open glory
Fitzpatrick’s US Open success got here on the identical venue the place he had received the US Newbie 9 years earlier, with a surprising strategy shot from the green bunker – on the 72nd gap – serving to arrange the two-putt par required to carry off Scheffler and Will Zalatoris.
“Nothing’s ever going to top Brookline, it’s just not,” Fitzpatrick admitted. “I am unable to consider how briskly it has gone [since 2022].
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Highlights of the ultimate spherical from the 2022 US Open at Brookline, the place Matt Fitzpatrick claimed a one-stroke victory
“I think the whole week in general, I was looking forward to it from the moment it was announced that it was going to be there. I was excited to obviously go back regardless.
“I feel clearly at that time limit as nicely, I might been really I might been taking part in rather well and actually type of placing myself in competition in various occasions, which was very nice.
“I think obviously getting there with the confidence, even though that was nine years ago that I played the US amateur there. I felt like I knew that course better than everyone else, I’d got that confidence and – particularly when I was playing well there – it just kind of all came together.”
Ryder Cup push forward? ‘I do know I am not shut’
Fitzpatrick has performed in three of the final 4 Ryder Cups for Staff Europe, partnering Rory McIlroy in each fourballs periods throughout their 16.5-11.5 victory over Staff USA in 2023.
Luke Donald has retained captaincy for this 12 months’s contest at Bethpage Black, stay from September 26-28 on Sky Sports activities, whereas Fitzpatrick at present sits thirty ninth within the qualification standings and certain requires an enormous few months to be in consideration to function.
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Staff Europe took their celebrations onto the group bus after their thrilling 2023 Ryder Cup victory over the USA in Rome
“I’ve had brief chats with Luke [Donald],” Fitzpatrick added. “I think, being experienced now and knowing how it works, I’m not trying to force it.
“I am not like texting Luke and saying ‘I actually need to be there, it is actually essential for me’. If I play nicely then I will be there and if I do not play nicely, I will not be there. I am completely happy to just accept that.
“My Ryder Cup expertise hasn’t precisely been the way you dream about as a child. I like to play the Ryder Cup, I like to be a part of the European group with all of the lads however, on the identical time, it does not damage me proper now as a result of I do know the place I’m and I do know the place I lie.
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The very best of the motion from day three of the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf & Nation Membership in Italy
“I know I’m not that close to the team and I know that I’ve got to have some good results to even come into the frame of mind for a pick and whatnot.
“It is actually one thing I am not even serious about to be trustworthy – it’s totally far at the back of my thoughts. I am simply making an attempt to focus on the place I’m and type of pull myself out of a little bit of the opening that I have been in and simply go from there actually.”
Listen to the full Bob MacIntyre interview on the latest edition of the Sky Sports Golf podcast, hosted every week by Jamie Weir. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Spreaker, whereas vodcast editions could be discovered on the Sky Sports activities Golf YouTube channel.
