Matt Fitzpatrick

Matthew Thomas Fitzpatrick (born 1 September 1994) is an English professional golfer. After winning the 2013 U.S. Amateur, he later won his first professional tournament at the 2015 British Masters. In 2022 he won his first major championship at the U.S. Open.[2] In 2023, he won the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links, his second PGA Tour victory.

Matt Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick in 2014
Personal information
Full nameMatthew Thomas Fitzpatrick
Born (1994-09-01) 1 September 1994
Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st)
Sporting nationality England
ResidenceSheffield, South Yorkshire, England
Jupiter, Florida, U.S.
Career
CollegeNorthwestern University
Turned professional2014
Current tour(s)European Tour
PGA Tour
Former tour(s)Challenge Tour
Professional wins10
Highest ranking6 (23 April 2023)[1]
(as of 22 October 2023)
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour2
European Tour9
Asian Tour1
Best results in major championships
(wins: 1)
Masters TournamentT7: 2016
PGA ChampionshipT5: 2022
U.S. OpenWon: 2022
The Open ChampionshipT20: 2019
Achievements and awards
Mark H. McCormack Medal2013

Early life

Fitzpatrick was born in Sheffield and attended Tapton School where he sat A-levels in 2013.[3] He is a keen football fan and a lifelong supporter of local club Sheffield United.[4] His younger brother Alex played college golf at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. Alex played in the 2019 and 2021 Walker Cup and turned professional in 2022.[5]

Amateur career

Fitzpatrick won the 2012 Boys Amateur Championship at Notts Golf Club (Hollinwell). He made the cut at the 2013 Open Championship and finished as low amateur, winning The Silver Medal.[6] Fitzpatrick and Jimmy Mullen were the only amateurs to make the cut, with Fitzpatrick finishing on 294 to Mullen's 299.[7] Later in 2013, Fitzpatrick won the U.S. Amateur, which earned him invitations to the 2014 Masters Tournament, U.S. Open, and Open Championship provided he remained an amateur.[8] The U.S. Amateur win took him to the top of the World Amateur Golf Ranking[9] which earned him the Mark H. McCormack Medal.[10] In September 2013 he played in the Walker Cup.

In September 2013 Fitzpatrick enrolled at Northwestern University to play college golf with the Northwestern Wildcats;[11] however he left after one quarter, in January 2014, to pursue a full-time amateur golf career.[12] He played in five tournaments for Northwestern in the autumn of 2013. He was the co-champion of the Rod Myers Invitational at Duke University to lead Northwestern to the team title, and also recorded a third place finish at the Windon Memorial Classic to help Northwestern win the tournament. He recorded finishes of 53rd, 23rd, and 15th in his other three tournaments.[13]

Professional career

Fitzpatrick turned professional after the 2014 U.S. Open,[14] forfeiting his exemption to the 2014 Open Championship.[15] His professional debut was at the 2014 Irish Open, after which he played several competitions on the European Tour and Challenge Tour on sponsor and tournament invitations.

In November 2014, Fitzpatrick entered the 2014 European Tour Qualifying School[16] where he finished in 11th place and qualified for the 2015 European Tour.

Fitzpatrick started the 2015 season missing six cuts in the first eight competitions on the season; in June, he registered a third place at the Lyoness Open quickly followed, in July 2015, by second place at the Omega European Masters a shot behind Danny Willett, winning the second prize of €300,000. His maiden victory came in October 2015, when he won the British Masters at Woburn, winning the first prize of £500,000 (€671,550). After this result, he entered the world top 100 for the first time with a ranking of 59. He finished his rookie season on tour with one win, nine top-10 placements, and a 12th place in the final Order of Merit.

In April 2016, Fitzpatrick competed at the 2016 Masters Tournament, finishing tied for the 7th place; in June, he won the 2016 Nordea Masters and reached the 32nd place in the Official World Golf Ranking, his best position to date. Due to his results on the 2015 and 2016 seasons of the European Tour he obtained an automatic selection for the 2016 Ryder Cup.

In November 2016, Fitzpatrick won the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai by one shot over Tyrrell Hatton, for the third win of his career.[17]

In September 2017, Fitzpatrick won the Omega European Masters in Crans-Montana, Switzerland via a playoff victory over Scott Hend and in September 2018, Fitzpatrick successfully defended his European Masters title in a playoff over Lucas Bjerregaard.

In December 2020, Fitzpatrick won his second DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, beating eventual Race to Dubai champion, Lee Westwood by one shot. The win also marked his first Rolex Series title.[18]

In September 2021, Fitzpatrick played on the European team in the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin. The U.S. team won 19–9 and Fitzpatrick went 0–3–0 including a loss in his Sunday singles match against Daniel Berger. Three weeks later, Fitzpatrick won the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters at Real Club Valderrama.[19]

2022: Major victory

In June 2022, he won his first major championship at the U.S. Open, with a one-shot victory at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts – the same venue where he won the U.S. Amateur in 2013. He joined Jack Nicklaus as the second male golfer to win a U.S Open and a U.S. Amateur title at the same venue.[20] In September, he was defeated in a playoff at the DS Automobiles Italian Open by Robert MacIntyre.[21]

2023

In April 2023, Fitzpatrick won the RBC Heritage, defeating Jordan Spieth in a playoff. Fitzpatrick won on the third playoff hole after hitting his approach shot to within one foot to set up the winning birdie.[22]

In September 2023, Fitzpatrick played on the European team in the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Guidonia, Rome, Italy. The European team won 16.5–11.5 and Fitzpatrick went 1–2–0 including a loss in his Sunday singles match against Max Homa.

In October 2023, Fitzpatrick won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship with a final round 66 on the Old Course at St. Andrews. Fitpatrick also won the pro-am component of the event, his partner was his mother Susan. The event finished on Monday and was shortened to 54 holes due to inclement weather.[23]

Personal life

Fitzpatrick appeared in the sports documentary series Full Swing, which premiered on Netflix on 15 February 2023.[24]

Amateur wins

Professional wins (10)

PGA Tour wins (2)
Legend
Major championships (1)
Other PGA Tour (1)
No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-up
1 19 Jun 2022 U.S. Open −6 (68-70-68-68=274) 1 stroke United States Scottie Scheffler, United States Will Zalatoris
2 16 Apr 2023 RBC Heritage −17 (66-70-63-68=267) Playoff United States Jordan Spieth

PGA Tour playoff record (1–0)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
1 2023 RBC Heritage United States Jordan Spieth Won with birdie on third extra hole

European Tour wins (9)
Legend
Major championships (1)
Tour C'ships/Race to Dubai finals series (2)
Rolex Series (1)
Other European Tour (6)
No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-up
1 11 Oct 2015 British Masters −15 (64-69-68-68=269) 2 strokes Denmark Søren Kjeldsen, Republic of Ireland Shane Lowry,
Paraguay Fabrizio Zanotti
2 5 Jun 2016 Nordea Masters −16 (68-65-68-71=272) 3 strokes Denmark Lasse Jensen
3 20 Nov 2016 DP World Tour Championship, Dubai −17 (69-69-66-67=271) 1 stroke England Tyrrell Hatton
4 10 Sep 2017 Omega European Masters1 −14 (67-65-70-64=266) Playoff Australia Scott Hend
5 9 Sep 2018 Omega European Masters (2) −17 (69-64-63-67=263) Playoff Denmark Lucas Bjerregaard
6 13 Dec 2020 DP World Tour Championship, Dubai (2) −15 (68-68-69-68=273) 1 stroke England Lee Westwood
7 17 Oct 2021 Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters −6 (71-68-70-69=278) 3 strokes Australia Min Woo Lee, Sweden Sebastian Söderberg
8 19 Jun 2022 U.S. Open −6 (68-70-68-68=274) 1 stroke United States Scottie Scheffler, United States Will Zalatoris
9 9 Oct 2023 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship −19 (67-64-66=197)* 3 strokes England Marcus Armitage, New Zealand Ryan Fox,
England Matthew Southgate

*Note: The 2023 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship was shortened to 54 holes due to rain.
1Co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour

European Tour playoff record (2–3)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
1 2017 Omega European Masters Australia Scott Hend Won with par on third extra hole
2 2018 Omega European Masters Denmark Lucas Bjerregaard Won with birdie on first extra hole
3 2019 BMW International Open Italy Andrea Pavan Lost to birdie on second extra hole
4 2021 Abrdn Scottish Open Belgium Thomas Detry, Australia Min Woo Lee Lee won with birdie on first extra hole
5 2022 DS Automobiles Italian Open Scotland Robert MacIntyre Lost to birdie on first extra hole

Major championships

Wins (1)
YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunners-up
2022U.S. OpenTied for lead−6 (68-70-68-68=274)1 strokeUnited States Scottie Scheffler, United States Will Zalatoris

Results timeline

Results not in chronological order in 2020.

Tournament 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Masters Tournament CUT T7 32 T38
U.S. Open T48LA T54 T35 T12
The Open Championship T44LA CUT T44 CUT
PGA Championship T49 CUT CUT
Tournament 20192020202120222023
Masters Tournament T21 T46 T34 T14 T10
PGA Championship T41 CUT T23 T5 CUT
U.S. Open T12 CUT T55 1 T17
The Open Championship T20 NT T26 T21 T41
  Win
  Top 10
  Did not play

LA = Low amateur
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
NT = No tournament due to COVID-19 pandemic

Summary
TournamentWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-10Top-25EventsCuts made
Masters Tournament00002498
PGA Championship00011284
U.S. Open10011498
The Open Championship00000286
Totals10024123426
  • Most consecutive cuts made – 10 (2020 Masters – 2022 Masters)
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (2022 PGA – 2022 U.S. Open)

Results in The Players Championship
Tournament 20162017201820192020202120222023
The Players Championship CUT CUT T46 T41 C T9 CUT CUT
  Top 10

CUT = missed the halfway cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
C = Cancelled after the first round due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Results in World Golf Championships
Tournament201520162017201820192020202120222023
Championship T35 T16 T30 T27 T37 T11
Match Play T38 T17 T36 T61 NT1 T18 T18 T31
Invitational T50 T48 T4 T6 T57
Champions T7 T16 T9 T54 7 NT1 NT1 NT1

1Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic

  Top 10
  Did not play

QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
NT = No tournament
"T" = Tied
Note that the Championship and Invitational were discontinued from 2022. The Champions was discontinued from 2023.

Team appearances

Amateur

Professional

See also

References
  1. "Week 16 2023 Ending 23 Apr 2023" (pdf). OWGR. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  2. Church, Ben; Riddell, Don. "Matt Fitzpatrick revels in 'special' US Open win and 'incredible' record he now shares with Jack Nicklaus". CNN. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  3. Bull, Andy. "US Amateur champion Matthew Fitzpatrick aims to cut a dash at the Masters". The Guardian.
  4. "How the Blades have featured in Matt's golfing success". Sheffield United F.C. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  5. "2018–19 Men's Golf Roster Alex Fitzpatrick". godeacs.com. Wake Forest University Athletics. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  6. Lavner, Ryan (21 July 2013). "Englishman Fitzpatrick, 18, low amateur at Open". Golf Channel. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  7. Scott, Ged (19 July 2013). "The Open 2013: Jimmy Mullen keeps Silver Medal hopes alive". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  8. "U.S. Am: Matt Fitzpatrick tops Goss". ESPN. Associated Press. 18 August 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  9. "Matthew Fitzpatrick becomes the World's number one amateur". WAGR. 21 August 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  10. "Fitzpatrick and Ko win Mark H McCormack Medals as leading amateurs". WAGR. 21 August 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  11. Stein, Cassie (2 July 2013). "Collegians Forrest, Stow, Fitzpatrick qualify for Open". Golfweek. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  12. Evans, Farrell (9 January 2014). "Matt Fitzpatrick leaves Northwestern". ESPN. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  13. "Northwestern men's golf 2013–2014". Northwestern University Sports.
  14. "Matt Fitzpatrick to turn professional after US Open". BBC Sport. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  15. Lavner, Ryan (20 May 2014). "U.S. Am champ Fitzpatrick turning pro after Pinehurst". Golf Channel. Archived from the original on 24 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  16. "European Tour Q-School: Five 2014 graduates who have impressed".
  17. Murray, Ewan (20 November 2016). "Matthew Fitzpatrick holds nerve to win DP World Tour Championship in Dubai". The Guardian.
  18. "Lee Westwood seals Race to Dubai; Matthew Fitzpatrick wins DP World Tour Championship". Sporting Life. 13 December 2020.
  19. "Valderrama masterclass puts Fitzpatrick in seventh heaven". European Tour. 17 October 2021.
  20. Ferguson, Doug (19 June 2022). "Fitzpatrick a winner again at Brookline as US Open champion". Associated Press. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  21. Reid, Philip (18 September 2022). "Bob MacIntyre beats Fitzpatrick in Italian Open playoff as McIlroy finishes fourth". The Irish Times. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  22. Iacobelli, Pete (16 April 2023). "Fitzpatrick wins RBC Heritage over Spieth on 3rd extra hole". Associated Press News. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  23. "Mum's the word for Matt Fitzpatrick after Links Championship double". The Guardian. Associated Press. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  24. "Tee Up for 'Full Swing,' the Golf Documentary Series That Drives Plenty of Drama". Netflix Tudum. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  25. "European Boys' Team Championship – European Golf Association". Retrieved 22 January 2023.
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