Matthew Fitzpatrick will bring his unquestionable talent to the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic after the promising Englishman accepted an invitation to play the penultimate event of the European Challenge Tour season at Almouj Golf The Wave, Muscat, from October 30-November 2.
The 19 year old was only one of 11 players, which included former Challenge Tour Graduate Martin Kaymer, to shoot under par on the final day before securing a tied 48 place finish.
Fitzpatrick’s 69 earned him an 11-over par total and another trophy as low amateur at a Major, following the Silver Medal he earned at The Open Championship at Muirfield last summer.
“To have one of the most exciting young prospects in world golf, Matthew Fitzpatrick, playing in the 2014 National Bank of Oman Golf Classic, is a considerable compliment to the status of our tournament,” said Ahmed Muslamy, CEO of National Bank of Oman.
“It will be interesting to follow the progress of Matthew in the professional ranks in the run-up to the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic at the end of October.”
Fitzpatrick, who announced that he will turn professional prior to this week’s The Irish Open, commented: “The National Bank of Oman Golf Classic was one of the most exciting events on the Challenge Tour last season, so it will be great to play at this year’s tournament. Travelling the world and visiting different countries was one of the things I was most looking forward to about turning professional – hopefully I can play well and make my trip to Oman one to remember.”
The Sheffield-born native’s achievements have been nothing short of spectacular. He became the first Englishman since 1911 to lift the USGA’s oldest trophy in winning the US Amateur at Brookline, Massachusetts, last August. The previous month he had earned the honour of being top amateur at Muirfield, tying for 44th place.
The 2012 Boys Amateur Champion was Great Britain and Ireland’s leading point scorer at the 2013 Walker Cup and last September he was awarded the Mark H. McCormack Medal as the leading player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
Despite missing the cut at the Masters Tournament by just one stroke in April earlier this year he finished tied for 23rd place at the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage the following week.
Fitzpatrick played a practice round on Pinehurst’s No. 2 course with Rory McIlroy on the Tuesday before the US Open and then played the first two rounds with Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose.
“Rory was a great help,” said Fitzpatrick. “It was nice to speak to Rory and pick his brains about a few things. He said that I can ask him any questions I have, so that’s nice. It was good finding someone like that who’s willing to help me and show me the ropes, and he’s certainly done that and more.
“I really enjoyed it. It was a great week. My aim was to win the low amateur, and to achieve it is pretty pleasing. It’s been great playing with some of the biggest names in the game and to close with a 69 was a great way to finish and a great way to end my amateur career at the US Open.”
