Matt Fitzpatrick discusses previous US Open victory, type struggles and Ryder Cup qualification hopes in Sky Sports activities Golf podcast | Golf Information

Former main champion Matt Fitzpatrick insists he’s “heading in the right direction” heading into this week’s US Open, having skilled a dramatic hunch in type over the previous 12 months.

Fitzpatrick claimed a maiden main title with a one-shot victory within the 2022 US Open at Brookline earlier than registering victories on each the PGA Tour and DP World Tour the next season, the place he was additionally a part of Europe’s Ryder Cup success in Rome.

The Englishman was world No 16 eventually 12 months’s US Open at Pinehurst No 2 however has registered simply two worldwide high 20 finishes since, leaving him eightieth on this planet rankings and 79th within the FedExCup standings heading into this week’s contest at Oakmont – stay from Thursday on Sky Sports activities Golf.

Fitzpatrick briefly contended through the ultimate spherical of the PGA Championship final month earlier than ending tied-sixth, seven strokes behind Scottie Scheffler, with the 30-year-old trying to construct on his finest end of the 12 months over the remainder of the season.

“It [PGA Championship] gave me huge confidence,” Fitzpatrick instructed the Sky Sports activities Golf podcast. “It was a bizarre feeling coming off the 18th as a result of I used to be delighted with the end, however on the similar time disenchanted with my previous few holes.

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“I hit so many nice photographs over the course of the week, I simply hit a few poor ones and unusually for me I simply missed a few putts. Unexpectedly, I gap these, I believe I might have completed in tied-second and clearly it is a completely different week.

“I got here away in a significantly better mind set from an amazing week and performed very well all week. It is the world’s most annoying recreation, however I undoubtedly really feel like I am heading in the right direction. I undoubtedly suppose issues are going higher.

“I really feel like I’ve acquired extra confidence in my recreation, extra confidence in what I am doing. I really feel like I’ve simply acquired to form of lean into that a bit bit extra now and belief that and doubtless, in a manner, be a bit extra aggressive to try to go after it and get some wins actually.”

How Fitzpatrick claimed US Open glory

Fitzpatrick’s US Open success got here on the similar venue the place he had received the US Beginner 9 years earlier, with a shocking strategy shot from the golf green bunker – on the 72nd gap – serving to arrange the two-putt par required to carry off Scheffler and Will Zalatoris.

“Nothing’s ever going to high Brookline, it is simply not,” Fitzpatrick admitted. “I am unable to consider how briskly it has gone [since 2022].

“I believe the entire week normally, I used to be trying ahead to it from the second it was introduced that it was going to be there. I used to be excited to clearly return regardless.

“I believe clearly at that time limit as properly, I might been really I might been enjoying very well and actually form of placing myself in competition in numerous occasions, which was very nice.

“I believe clearly getting there with the arrogance, though that was 9 years in the past that I performed the US novice there. I felt like I knew that course higher than everybody else, I might acquired that confidence and – notably after I was enjoying properly there – it simply form of all got here collectively.”

Ryder Cup push forward? ‘I do know I am not shut’

Fitzpatrick has performed in three of the final 4 Ryder Cups for Crew Europe, partnering Rory McIlroy in each fourballs periods throughout their 16.5-11.5 victory over Crew USA in 2023.

Luke Donald has retained captaincy for this 12 months’s contest at Bethpage Black, stay from September 26-28 on Sky Sports activities, whereas Fitzpatrick at the moment sits thirty ninth within the qualification standings and sure requires an enormous few months to be in consideration to characteristic.

“I’ve had transient chats with Luke [Donald],” Fitzpatrick added. “I believe, being skilled now and figuring out the way it works, I am not attempting to pressure it.

“I am not like texting Luke and saying ‘I actually wish to be there, it is actually vital for me’. If I play properly then I will be there and if I do not play properly, I will not be there. I am comfortable to just accept that.

“My Ryder Cup expertise hasn’t precisely been the way you dream about as a child. I like to play the Ryder Cup, I like to be a part of the European group with all of the lads however, on the similar time, it would not damage me proper now as a result of I do know the place I’m and I do know the place I lie.

“I do know I am not that near the group and I do know that I’ve acquired to have some good outcomes to even come into the mind set for a choose and whatnot.

“It is actually one thing I am not even enthusiastic about to be sincere – it’s totally far behind my thoughts. I am simply attempting to focus on the place I’m and form of pull myself out of a little bit of the opening that I have been in and simply go from there actually.”

Hearken to the complete Bob MacIntyre interview on the newest version of the Sky Sports activities Golf podcast, hosted each week by Jamie Weir. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Spreaker, whereas vodcast editions could be discovered on the Sky Sports activities Golf YouTube channel.