Riding the ‘golden’ era, Matt Fitzpatrick leans on the words of Scottie Scheffler

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. – Matt Fitzpatrick heard Scottie Scheffler’s viral message during a pre-tournament press conference at the Open Championship and incorporated it. Ahead of the tournament at Royal Portrush, World No. 1 was present while talking about the fleeting feeling of success at the highest level.

“It only takes a few minutes, that kind of euphoric feeling,” Scheffler said last July. “To win the Byron Nelson tournament at home – I’ve worked my whole life to be a golfer to have a chance to win that tournament. You win it, you celebrate, you get hugs from my family, my sister is there, it’s an amazing moment. And then it’s like, ‘OK, what are we going to eat tonight?’ Life goes on.

“Playing professional games is a really weird thing to do. It really is. Because we’re putting in so much effort, we’re working on something that’s fleeting.”

Scheffler said that while winning gives him a sense of accomplishment, it “doesn’t fulfill the deepest desires of his heart.” Fitzpatrick, who was in the midst of a return to top form, took Scheffler’s words to heart and vowed to approach his next wave of success differently whenever it arrives.

A few months later, the floodgates opened for Matt Fitzpatrick. He won the DP World Tour Championship in November and has won three times on the PGA Tour this season, including the RBC Heritage and Valspar. He and his wife are also expecting, and he helped his brother, Alex, get his PGA Tour card by winning the team event, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. It’s been an unprecedented year for the Fitzpatricks, and Matt has made sure not to let the excitement of the season pass.

“I’m trying to appreciate it as much as possible. It’s all happening so fast,” Fitzpatrick said Monday ahead of the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink. “[Scottie’s words] he really stuck with me because I was so determined that, well, well, if I’m lucky enough to win again, I’ll take it. I enjoy it. I really think about it and enjoy it with people who mean something to them, and myself. …It’s about thinking about those times, those good times you’ve had, regardless of the results this week, last week, next week, whatever it is, make sure you remind yourself of those good times.”

Good times are ahead for Matt Fitzpatrick. They have never been better. When he won the 2022 US Open, Fitzpatrick thought he was in his “golden” era. But it was then. Now it is different. According to Data Golf’s raw Strokes Gained numbers, Fitzpatrick ranks third in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green, 6th in putts and fourth in approach. His tee-to-green and ball numbers are better than in 2022 and the style of play is the same.

This is the “golden age” of Matt Fitzpatrick. It is born out of “curiosity” and “good work ethic.” Fitzpatrick is a firm believer in analysis. He wants every unit of data he can get. He digs into Trackman’s numbers to compare them to different years of his career to better understand his game, what he’s missing and how to take it to the next level. He’s always looking for small edges to get better, even when he’s playing the best golf of his career.

“I want those small, small percentages, what that looks like, I think that’s where you’re always trying to go,” Fitzpatrick told Aronimink. You know it can seem crazy when top players make changes to try to get better. “You’re always thinking on the outside, like, why is he doing that? Like, you know, that seems stupid,” Fitzpatrick said. But those “small gains” are the key to taking the best golf of your life and making it even better. At higher levels, the difference between winning and losing is in decimal points.

So, Matt Fitzpatrick is looking into every nook and cranny of his game to put himself ahead. But he also understands that golf is not linear. Extensions of good plays, such as they are now, often lead to dips. There are ebbs and flows. Rough and smooth. He is determined to tackle that as he looks to push the limits of his game.

Earlier this season, Fitzpatrick felt this coming. He hit it well to start the season on the West Coast, but couldn’t get his putter going. All data says he was the best hitter ever. He heard. All of a sudden there was an outcry from the Players. After that, the dam broke and he “cashed out” his consistent performance with three wins in four seasons. He is now ranked No. 4 in the world and comes into the PGA Championship in prime form to add a second major.

Fitzpatrick likes to look at the charts in Data Golf that show players’ career arcs. You know that eventually the hard part will come; that’s golf. But avoiding a dip doesn’t mean Matt Fitzpatrick is feeling any extra weight this week to make sure the best golf of his career leads to the most coveted prizes. Matt Fitzpatrick is a method and process addict – one dictated by years of data. He will stick to what gave birth to this “golden” era and let the chips fall where they may.

“I wouldn’t say I put pressure on myself. Obviously I know the situation I’m in, even before I play well – I know what my game is like, just like I’m doing. I don’t think it’s a matter of putting any more pressure,” Fitzpatrick said. “So if anything, it’s trying to allow it to happen.”

And make sure you don’t let time go too fast when it comes to this weekend at Aronimink.