Matt Fitzpatrick says he returns to the US PGA Championship confident in his chances of claiming more Major Championship glory after the lessons he learned from his near miss last year spurred him to US Open victory.
Just weeks after finishing in a share of fifth at Southern Hills Country Club, the Englishman claimed his maiden Major after a gripping final round in which he held off Will Zalatoris and Scottie Scheffler to win the US national championship.
Success at Brookline Country Club saw him emulate Jack Nicklaus as only the second player to win both the US Open and US Amateur Championship.
Almost 12 months on, Fitzpatrick arrives at Oak Hill Country Club in Upstate New York in search of the Wanamaker Trophy with a reflective mindset.
“I think that final round (at Southern Hills) there was a lot of talk about me playing a little bit too fast, looking a bit rushed,” he said at his pre-tournament news conference on Wednesday.
“Obviously at the time you don’t see that and I only really had like a week afterwards before I was playing the next run of tournaments, so I kind of didn’t get much time to reflect on it.
“But then I think when the time came Sunday of US Open I felt like I knew exactly what to do.
“Statistically I didn’t even putt that well that week, so if I can play the same way again and putt as well as I know I can, then that’s also another level that I can kind of add to my performance.
“I think that’s kind of a big thing for myself that I feel like if I can do that, I know I can contend and win.”
After an injury-hit start to this year, Fitzpatrick impressed at last month’s Masters Tournament despite lowered expectations.
A week later, he returned to the winner’s circle as he beat defending champion Jordan Spieth in a play-off at the RBC Heritage on the PGA TOUR.
But if he is to celebrate more success this week, the 28-year-old will have to overcome a “brute of a golf course” as the renovated East Course at Oak Hill stages the US PGA for the fourth time and first in a decade.
“From the holes that I've seen, there's so many tough, tough golf holes where you have to hit just good shots,” he said.
“I think that's the great thing about it is it's a proper test. You know, you've got to play good golf. Whoever does win this week, in my opinion, will thoroughly deserve it.”
Fitzpatrick will again have experienced caddie Billy Foster by his side this week, with the eight-time DP World Tour winner keen to praise the influence he has had in his career progression over recent years.
“I think (Billy) was a huge addition for me,” he said.
“His experience gives me a lot of confidence.
“He tells me I am better than probably what I think I am, and also brings me back down to earth if I'm getting ahead of myself.”
