One of the perks of being a top 50 player in the world is the ability to play in some of the biggest events, all across the globe. Unfortunately for those players that can bring along some issues as well.
The latest victim is Matthew Fitzpatrick.
The 21 year old played at Baltusrol last week making his first ever US PGA Championship appearance. A bogey free final round 67 saw Fitzpatrick finish inside the top 50 and round of a memorable week as the Englishman completed a grand slam of major appearances in 2016.
Great to have so much support out this week! @Cacker22 @NU_nate32 @PuttaLydOnIt @megpott pic.twitter.com/IGSnK2bVxz
— Matt Fitzpatrick (@MattFitz94) July 31, 2016
Having finished his round at 2pm local time, Fitzpatrick and his team made plans to fly back to Europe that night ahead of the Aberdeen Asset Management Paul Lawrie Match Play in Scotland.
Sounds good right? It wasn’t until the courtesy car trip to the airport that things took a turn.
”We left the golf course about 6.30pm to head to Newark airport and then suddenly realised on my itinerary that I was flying out of JFK airport. Luckily my driver was a local and he swerved traffic and raced us to the right airport, just in time to make the flight.
”The Aer Lingus staff were waiting for me, checked in my bags and took me straight through security. I then ran to the gate and straight on the flight. It was a pretty mental.”
So, with the help of the airline, Fitzpatrick made it back to Dublin and made sure to tweet his thanks the second he arrived.
What a classy airline @AerLingus is! Unbelievably good service!!!
— Matt Fitzpatrick (@MattFitz94) August 1, 2016
And when you’re a top 50 golfer in the world, you even get tweets back from your airline captain!
glad it worked out & you made it Matt
— Brian O'Sullivan (@BOSullivan66) August 1, 2016
However, having been rushed in the US, the two-time European Tour winner narrowly made his flight to Manchester only to see his case arrive but no sign of his golf clubs. A rather important piece of equipment for a professional golfer.
As any 21 year old would do when his luggage doesn’t arrive, Fitzpatrick once again took to social media to enquire.
It was now Wednesday and 24 hours before he was due to tee it up against Thomas Bjørn at the Paul Lawrie Match Play and Fitzpatrick still didn’t have his clubs. While he and his manager desperately attempted to find a solution, Fitzpatrick’s Twitter followers found the funny side to the situation.
But what about the clubs?
They did eventually arrive into Manchester on Wednesday and thanks to the help of those around him, the Nordea Masters champion should have his set in time for his opening round.
”My pal in Manchester is driving them half way up the road to Scotland and my manager is going to meet him and drive them back to the course. I’m very grateful to both. It might be my manager’s job,” he joked “but I’ll have to find some way to thank my mate.”
So there you have it, Matthew Fitzpatrick will, perhaps should, have his clubs by the time he tees off at 2.15pm against Thomas Bjørn. It’s a good thing too, this may be his last match play practice before heading to Hazeltine with the European Ryder Cup team next month. Fitzpatrick is currently the last man automatically in the team at ninth in the World Points List.
