Matt Fitzpatrick is glad to be making a long-awaited return to the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo as he bids to build on his sustained upturn in form on his debut at The Belfry Hotel & Resort.
The English star claimed his first victory as a professional in this event at Woburn, as the youngest player in the field in 2015.
More than a decade on, 30-year-old Fitzpatrick arrives at The Belfry as one of Europe’s finest players having won his maiden Major Championship at the 2022 U.S. Open at Brookline.
With this his first return to one of the DP World Tour’s most historic events since 2018, Fitzpatrick is enjoying recalling memories of his breakthrough triumph on home soil.
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“Obviously, it was very special to get my first win,” he said.
“That week, I hadn’t been playing great in the lead up which is quite amusing. To then go and win wire to wire was pretty awesome.
“I was super nervous going into that Sunday round, but it is a great memory.”
Fitzpatrick comes into the opening event of the DP World Tour’s Back 9 and end of European Ryder Cup qualification after a strong run of results on both sides of the Atlantic.
Since the Masters Tournament in April, he has made the cut in all 12 of his subsequent starts and registered five top tens, including at both the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open Championship last month.
While he fell short of qualifying for this week’s Tour Championship on the PGA TOUR, he has climbed to 35th in the Official World Golf Ranking, having been outside the top 70 ahead of the first Major Championship of the year at Augusta National.
“I struggled with my irons early doors, earlier in the year, and I feel like I really turned them around," he reflected.
“I started working with Mark Blackburn and a few things he gave me were a huge turnaround.
“Since then, I feel like I have grown in confidence and obviously with that comes the results. I feel like I am doing the right things, slowly progressing which is really nice.”
I feel like I am doing the right things, slowly progressing which is really nice.
While he cannot secure an automatic qualifying spot for next month’s Ryder Cup with a good performance this week, he is still hoping to maintain his momentum in front of European Captain Luke Donald.
“It's obviously an important week,” said Fitzpatrick, who will also play at next week’s Omega European Masters where he is a two-time champion.
“There's a lot of scenarios at play. And I think that's the big thing is obviously playing this week and next week is important for me to obviously continue that to make sure that he knows I'm in and around the team.
“So, we'll give it a good go this week and see what happens.
With this his fifth event in a row, Fitzpatrick is managing his energy levels as he gets to grips with a new layout.
“It’s a bit fiddlier than I thought,” he said of the challenge posed by the Brabazon Course at The Belfry.
“A lot of woods off tees, hitting to different spots. It’s not quite how I imagined it. I thought it was a bigger golf course. It’s in great shape. I like that aspect about it, so I am looking forward to playing.
“The 18th is a brutal hole to finish. If you don’t get your drive away it makes it very difficult. That closing stretch is a good one.”
