Matthew Fitzpatrick is looking forward to teeing it up at the Ryder Cup in September after virtually sealing his place on Darren Clarke's team with a fifth-placed finish at the D+D REAL Czech Masters.
Barring a remarkable set of circumstances this week, the Englishman will make his Ryder Cup debut at Hazeltine after a whirlwind 12 months that has seen him rise into the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
He had ten top ten finishes in his rookie season, including his first win at the British Masters supported by Sky Sports which moved him into the qualifying places in October.
The 21 year old has been there ever since and - with a second win at the Nordea Masters under his belt - he cannot wait to represent his continent against the United States.
"It's very exciting now," he said. "We can look forward to it and get my game in shape.
"I've probably been in the team for the longest period of time. It started a few weeks before I won at the British Masters and jumped into the team and I've managed to stay there since then. It's been absolutely phenomenal and I'm just delighted to be in the team.
It's been absolutely phenomenal and I'm just delighted to be in the team - Matthew Fitzpatrick
"It's a great opportunity, I've got my first one coming up and hopefully I can just keep pushing on my game and getting better.
"It's just happened so fast it's difficult for it to sink in. At the start of this year it had a dip but I've just got to keep working hard and see what happens.
"It's something that since you turn pro you don't really have much of, so to be part of that, only once every two years, it's going to be special. We played the Paul Lawrie Match Play not so long ago and that's a great event."
Fitzpatrick was part of the victorious European team that Clarke led to victory in the EURASIA CUP presented by DRB-HICOM - winning two points out of three - and he is hopeful that will hold him in good stead.
"You got a feeling for the atmosphere of the team that week in Malaysia and how Darren approaches the week," he said. "It was really interesting to get to know him in that environment. I learned a lot that week.
"Obviously it will be a lot different come September but it was a good warm up."
