Ryder Cup captain backs star with poor record to | Golf News

Despite a less than stellar Ryder Cup record, Matt Fitzpatrick has obtained the backing of Paul McGinley to shine at Bethpage Black.

Fitzpatrick, who clinched the U.S. Open at Brookline in 2022, has only managed to secure a single level from his three Ryder Cup appearances to date. The English golfer made his debut at Hazeltine in 2016 as a promising 22 yr previous, but suffered losses in both of his matches in Minnesota, contributing to a 17-11 defeat for his staff.

His luck did not improve at Whistling Straits in 2021, where Europe was overwhelmed by a dominant American staff in Wisconsin. Fitzpatrick failed to win any of his three matches that yr, but finally earned his first Ryder Cup level in Rome in 2023, defeating Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele in fourballs alongside Rory McIlroy, who is all set to lead the charge at Bethpage.

However, Fitzpatrick’s efficiency at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club noticed him lose his other two matches, leaving him with a 1-7 record heading to Bethpage – securing just 12.5 p.c of his potential factors.

Now 31, Fitzpatrick has been exhibiting indicators of type lately, and with the expertise of three Ryder Cups behind him, McGinley believes that Fitzpatrick will finally make his mark as a major participant in the Ryder Cup after being chosen as a captain’s choose.

McGinley, who led Europe to victory in 2014 at Gleneagles, is now serving as a strategic adviser to captain Luke Donald. He expressed his confidence in Matt Fitzpatrick, saying: “Matt Fitzpatrick is a guy who has a poor Ryder Cup record, [but] all of us behind the scenes are pretty confident that over time that’s going to rebalance itself and he’s going to have a great Ryder Cup very shortly. And this could be it.

“He’s a fantastic iron participant. That’s been a real strength of his. He’s obtained a new direction in phrases of what he is doing with his swing coach.”

“He’s always been a excellent putter. He’s a actually good competitor. He’s received a U.S. Amateur over on American soil.

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“So he’s a good match player. And it’s been a bit of a surprise [to see him struggle], and there are different reasons that we think behind the scenes as to why maybe he hasn’t ignited in a Ryder Cup. So we’ll address those with him.

“I can see him enjoying a larger function in the staff. He’s a big participant now. He’s a major champion. He hits the ball loads far.

“And he’s a guy that will be somewhat under the radar, but he could have a bigger role to play, and could have a really good Ryder Cup.”