ONE of the obsessions of a true sports fan is spotting a future star before he even knows that he’s a star. It wasn’t that long ago that Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson were all on my “most promising” list but now that they’re all bona fide stars on the Professional Golfers’ Association Tour, who’s the next star that’s waiting to break through?
For my money, the next breakout star is Matthew Fitzpatrick.
Born in Sheffield, Matthew Thomas Fitzpatrick had a stellar amateur career. He won the 2013 US Amateur Championship, was ranked World Amateur No. 1 and played in the 2013 Walker Cup. He made the cut in both the 2013 Open Championship, as well as at the 2014 US Open Championship.
He claimed his European Tour card at the 2014 Qualifying School and shone in his rookie season, finishing runner-up in Crans Montana before claiming his first win at the British Masters. He improved his performance again in 2016, winning twice at the Nordea Masters and DP World Tour Championship en route to a career-best sixth-place finish in the Race to Dubai. Fitzpatrick became the youngest Englishman to reach three victories at 22 years and 300 days. He made his Ryder Cup debut at Hazeltine and has come within inches of a first 59 on the European Tour at the 2015 KLM Open.
Then just last week, Fitzpatrick won the Omega European Masters in a tense playoff over long hitting Aussie Scott Hend. This victory pretty puts him on star-watch status and elevates him to the status of a genuine Tour phenom. There is no doubt that Fitzpatrick has the DNA of a champion, but why do we know so little about him?
Perhaps it’s his boyish good looks. He could be the amateur in the field for all they know. He’s not one of those flashy players with piercings or an unusual persona, neither does he date a super model. He’s clean cut and about the size of an average Filipino at 5-foot-9. He doesn’t drive the ball 350 yards (actually, not even 300) but achieves incredible success on the golf course anyway.
What Fitzpatrick does have is a beautiful golf swing. Classic positions throughout without a lot of clubface rotation. That makes for some very consistent ball striking. His action is one that doesn’t put a lot of stress on the back and that means that he should be pretty healthy throughout the course of his career.
His Ryder Cup team mate, Rory McIlroy, has been vocal about Fitzpatrick not getting enough attention.
“I can understand what some may say as he looks the same as when he won the US Amateur as he still looks very, very young. I think that it’s not Matt’s demeanor to be out there.
“He’s a quiet kid, but he gets his business done and he does it very efficiently and very well. Yeah, I mean, look, he’s a great talent.
“He’s a Ryder Cup player already and he won one of our biggest tournaments, has won a couple of our biggest tournaments over in Europe so far, so it’s not a surprise to me to see him up there at the top of this leaderboard.”
It is the other aspects of his game; his superb iron play, a stellar short game and a mind molded by the trials of the toughest amateur golf in the world make Fitzpatrick an obvious choice for stardom. They are the tools that he will need on the toughest golf courses in the world. Yes, he is never going to be one to overwhelm a golf course with sheer power, but there are other ways to put a low number on the score card and this is where Fitzpatrick shines.
Right now, fans are overwhelmed by the power that the next generation has put on display. Bruce Koepka’s 378-yard drive on the last hole of the US Open with a 3-wood or Dustin Johnson’s 341-yard cruise missile over water are far more exciting than a more pedestrian game like Fitzpatrick’s. Perhaps, he’s going to have to win a major before golf fans will pay a little more attention to the young man from Sheffield.
But it’s only a matter of time. Matthew Fitzpatrick is going to be a big star in the game. Bet on it.