The beauty of an individual sport means that golf champions can come in all shapes and sizes, but few major winners have ever been as meticulous, focused, and driven as little-known Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick.
The 27-year-old, who held off Will Zalatoris on a thrilling final hole, becomes just the third person to win the US Open and US Amateur Championship on the same course – previously winning at Brookline as a teenager in 2013.
And immediately after his win, several stories about how hard he worked, and how single-minded he was, began to surface.
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Golf writer (and Fitzpatrick’s good friend) Dan Rapaport revealed that just a few weeks ago, Fitzpatrick had allowed his friends to use his Florida home for a buck’s weekend. But given it was the week before the PGA Championship, the man himself took no part in the festivities – instead focusing on golf.
https://twitter.com/Daniel_Rapaport/status/1538296146665291777
Fitzpatrick had a stellar week at Southern Hills Country Club, finishing tied for fifth. But the best was yet to come, as he claimed his first major victory on Monday (AEST).
“No words – it’s what you grow up dreaming of, it’s something I’ve worked so hard for for such a long time,” he said as he was presented with the trophy.
“There was a big monkey on my back trying to win over here and everyone, all they ever talked about was that, and to do it as a major for my first win – there’s nothing better.
“I just played so solid all day, and got a couple of nice breaks there on 15 and took advantage of it – and that’s what it took in the end.”
Fitzpatrick hit 17 out of 18 greens during his final round, including a ridiculous shot out of the bunker on the final hole, when he looked to have thrown it away.
“I’ll be brutally honest, me and Billy [caddy Billy Foster] spent quite a while talking about the 18th tee shot, undecided,” he said.
https://twitter.com/EvinPriest/status/1538661280587857921
“I hit three wood today into the bunker and if there was one shot that I’ve struggled with this year that I just do not want, it’s a fairway bunker shot.
“It’s one of the best shots I’ve hit of all time – when I saw it leave the sand and I felt the strike, I couldn’t be happier.”
If that anecdote wasn’t enough to give you an idea of how seriously Fitzpatrick takes his craft, this story from last month may help.
Rapaport revealed that since the age of 15, Fitzpatrick has painstakingly recorded every single shot he has taken, on every single round of golf, in a notebook.
https://twitter.com/Daniel_Rapaport/status/1528464095611170816
“He leaves zero stone unturned in pursuit of a slight advantage,” Rapaport said.
“And then he’ll search for another stone. So disciplined, takes his career so seriously.”
And while many fans scoffed at both of these incidents at the time, pointing out that Fitzpatrick had yet to win a professional tournament in America, they’ll certainly be eating humble pie today.
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