Matt Fitzpatrick: Taking it Weekly to the Cup

Ask anyone who follows the pro golf tours around the globe, and they'll know who Fitzpatrick is. His success has been a journey of steady, impressive improvements. Throughout his career, Fitzpatrick has been climbing the ranks. His victories across different levels of tournaments and his significant contributions to the European Ryder Cup team have been well-documented. However, last year was a tough one for the golfer. It was a tough 2024 for Fitzpatrick. He struggled with his gear and only managed two top-five finishes out of 25 tournaments worldwide. Matt was unable to claim a single win since 2019. This was a significant setback for a player who had been enjoying a string of wins. It was a strange feeling for him to go without a win for a complete year. The 2025 Ryder Cup in Bethpage, New York may seem like a distant goal, but it's just around the corner. The Ryder Cup is looming. If you ask Fitzpatrick about where his priorities lie, he'll tell you he's taking it one week at a time. He speaks about it matter-of-factly. For Fitzpatrick, the focus is on playing well in the present. It's not that he doesn't want to represent his country and Europe at the Ryder Cup. The truth is that Fitzpatrick isn't getting ahead of himself. He's got his eye on his current performance. Fitzpatrick's Ryder Cup journey has been an exciting one over the past few years. His performance has improved but it was not until 2023 that he truly shone. We all remember how he brought the thunder down on the Americans in the 2023 Ryder Cup. It was a moment of magic. Fitzpatrick, paired with Rory McIlroy, obliterated the American duo of Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa. In the afternoon of day 1, Fitzpatrick had a stellar start, playing his first six holes under par, securing his first-ever Ryder Cup point. Captain Luke Donald's encourages dynamic leadership in the 2023 Ryder Cup was key. He was a fantastic communicator, which helped to bring out the best in his team. It's possible that Fitzpatrick may have a spot on the European team this year. In fact, he has already been penciled for the team. Surely winning a major tournament is enough to set a player apart from the rest. But there is more to Fitzpatrick's story. The European golfer is part of the TGL's New York Golf Club which is a new golf league where he teams up with Schauffele and Fowler among others. He now has a vested interest in the competition, given his association with the New York Golf Club. New York's reputation for intense and rowdy crowds is well-earned. They're known for being tough to play in front of, especially when it comes to European fans. It's because of the passionate the crowds. They don't take it easy on the players and it's part of the thrill of playing there. Yet Fitzpatrick isn’t worried. He has a strong record. He knows that the crowd will be rough, but he also knows that he can handle it. With a new season in full swing, Fitzpatrick’s tireless dedication to golf will continue to inspire.