Matt Fitzpatrick is excited to reunite with the entire Fitzpatrick family at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship after being part of the European Ryder Cup victory he called one of 'the best weeks of his life'
Fitzpatrick played a huge part in Ryder Cup Europe's 15-13 victory over the U.S. at Bethpage Black last week, securing 2½ points which included a win in foursomes, a win in four-balls and a crucial half point in the Sunday singles against Bryson DeChambeau.
Until that week Fitzpatrick's record had been much discussed, having earned just one point from three previous appearances, but he quickly quietened any critics with his performance in New York and proved how much he belonged in Team Europe.
"In terms of my own performance, it was obviously my best Ryder Cup to date by some distance," he said during his press conference on Wednesday.
"Leading up to, it I had been playing well as well. Just gave me the confidence to go out there and continue and to have the result I did was a huge bonus.
"From my own personal side, there was obviously questions about me being picked in the first place, and the people that were raising those questions obviously didn't look at my season from May. From May onwards, I had been playing very, very well and that was pleasing to me. I was playing well leading up to the Ryder Cup in the first place.
"I was never thinking to myself, should I be on this team or should I not be on this team? I had confidence from the start which was great and to do what we did on the first day with Ludvig and Saturday afternoon with Tyrrell, as well, and even the singles to an extent, to play as well as I did there for the first nine, ten holes was obviously ideal.
"Yeah, it was obviously a big week for me and I felt like I proved a point with the pick. It's something I wanted to do for a long time in the three previous that I played in."
Opting not to come to New York after a negative experience at Whistling Straits, Fitzpatrick reunited with both parents on the range in St Andrews on Tuesday as the entire family prepare to tee up this week.
"It's a great week for many reasons, we play three great courses and then obviously to be able to play with my family is an added extra so it will be fun," said Matt.
"I played with my mum the last two, three years and we always said my dad was going to be able to have a go.
"My agent, Mark Steinberg said to my mum, if I can get you in, would you be interested, and she said yes. From the Dunhill, and with an effort from Mark, as well, to get over the line, pretty special.
"It's been great to see them. They were watching all week. I was in contact with them over text, asking how it was. I shared the ins and outs of the atmosphere. I think they were pretty happy with the decision."
Fitzpatrick claimed the 2023 individual title at this event but also won the Pro-Am with his mum Sue, which came the week after he was part of the winning Ryder Cup side at Marco Simone.
This week, he will play with his father Russell for the first time, while Sue will partner younger brother and fellow DP World Tour player Alex.
It makes for a special week for the Fitzpatricks, which aptly comes at a perfect time for Matt, who admitted that he felt quite sad about leaving the team environment and returning to individual golf following a week that he compared to his victory in the 2022 U.S. Open.
"It's funny, we wake up Monday and you leave, you're getting your stuff together, and kind of the week is over, you say good-bye to everyone," he said. "To be honest it feels a bit depressing. I feel quite sad about it all. It's easily one of the best weeks of my life.
"It is right up there with winning the U.S. Open, it really is, and in particular Saturday afternoon, to do something I'll never forget, and you just wish you could do that over and over and over again.
"But you come back, obviously playing with my dad this week, but playing individual golf again actually feels pretty sad if I'm honest."
Although in separate groups for the first two days, all four members of the Fitzpatrick family will play together at St Andrews on Saturday at 10.39am.
