THE PLAYERS Championship was finally decided in the match shared by Cameron Young and Matthew Fitzpatrick. The American came out on top after an intense one-on-one that was ultimately decided by a bogey from the Englishman at the 18th. Fitzpatrick, however, finished second and earns the honour of being the best Englishman in the tournament’s history. Never before had a compatriot of his finished this tournament in the top three.
Beyond the tournament result, the most striking thing about that final round is that some spectators present at the TPC Sawgrass treated it as if it were a point of the Ryder Cup and made that clear to the players with shouts of “USA, USA, USA”.
Of course, it is not something you expect in a final round of a tournament like THE PLAYERS and the only thing it indicates is that the wound from what happened in New York last September still stings for part of the American public. On the other hand, if what they intended was to unsettle Fitzpatrick, it seems they missed the mark. The British golfer even found the crowd’s behaviour amusing
“The crowd? That was literally child’s play compared with Bethpage. If they think this was something, then they need to rethink it. They should go to New York. That’s how it is. I’d expect exactly the same if… well, it probably wouldn’t be the same because in Europe we’re a bit more well behaved, I’d say, but I would expect a similar intensity in Europe. I knew it was going to happen. It already happened to me with Jordan Spieth in 2023. Yes, it amuses me. I find it hilarious”, he explained after signing his card and confirming his solo second place.
As for the tournament, Fitzpatrick is satisfied, although the bogey at 18 obviously leaves a sour taste. “I thought I had hit a great tee shot on the 18th. I picked up the tee quickly because I hit it how I wanted. I thought the wind would take it a bit more, but it finished well to the right. Once off the fairway you know it’s going to be very hard to save par”, he said.
Be that as it may, Fitzpatrick believes he has taken a step forward this week. He gave a lot of credit to the work he’s doing with his coach Mark Blackburn and revealed a conversation with his psychologist a few hours earlier. “I was telling him last night that I feel I’m very good at putting myself in positions between 15th and 5th. However, I don’t feel I get myself into positions between 5th and a win often enough. I think if I can manage to do that, although easier said than done, I’ll win more. Obviously it’s easier said than done, but I trust myself in decisive moments, and I feel that if I manage to take that step, good things will come”, he said.
His second place at THE PLAYERS is his first top-3 on the PGA Tour since 2023. A step forward.
