Alex Fitzpatrick has suggested that he was stunned by just how kind everyone was towards him on his first PGA Tour start after winning the Zurich Classic of New Orleans alongside his brother.
Fitzpatrick has certainly taken his opportunity to impress on the PGA Tour with both hands. The 27-year-old arrived at TPC Louisiana without a card on the world’s biggest tour.
In what year does Jackson Koivun win a first major title?
The PGA Tour's brightest prospect has his first victory!
However, the Fitzpatrick brothers produced a superb performance to secure victory in New Orleans. The result not only secured the youngster a PGA Tour card, but it also booked him a spot in the remaining signature events.
There was some debate about whether the winner of a team event should receive such a prize. However, Alex Fitzpatrick has at least proven that he belongs on the bigger stages.
How PGA Tour players treated Alex Fitzpatrick during the Cadillac Championship
He has registered four more top 10s on the PGA Tour, including ending up in a tie for ninth at the Cadillac Championship on his first start as a member.
And speaking on the No Laying Up podcast this week, Fitzpatrick revealed everyone could not have been nicer to him ahead of the tournament at Doral.
“Once I played in Miami, everyone was so friendly with me that week, it was unbelievable. I had every player pretty much and every caddie come up to me and my caddie and be like, ‘hey, we’re happy you’re here. Great work’. That was something I was a little taken aback by, because I didn’t really know how people would respond to me being out there. I felt really comfortable straight away,” he said.
“I think part of that is being around my brother who’s one of the best players in the world, it’s definitely made me more comfortable. I think also I’ve come to the conclusion that these superstars, they’re literally just human beings who are pretty good at a sport. They’re just normal people who play golf for a living, and that’s for me where I’ve been very lucky and fortunate to where I don’t get starstruck by the people around me, or at least in golf I would say.
“I’ve always felt pretty comfortable being around these players and playing against them. I think that’s the nice thing, playing these signature events, you’re going to play with superstars in all of those events, and you’ve just got to get on with it. Golf is golf, and it doesn’t change no matter where you are in the world. If you can get that ball in the hole as quickly as possible, that’s all you care about.”
Where Alex Fitzpatrick sits in the FedEx Cup standings as the playoffs loom
Understandably, Fitzpatrick’s momentum has stalled over the last two events. It must not be forgotten that he also won on the DP World Tour earlier in the year, so he has been playing extremely well for some time.
He missed the cut at the Scottish Open before really struggling over the weekend at The Open Championship. Fitzpatrick went into the third round with a genuine chance of winning the Claret Jug.
The good news is the Englishman stands a fantastic chance of going all the way to the Tour Championship next month.
He is currently 19th in the FedEx Cup standings, having registered more top 10s on the PGA Tour this season than Rory McIlroy.
And given that he probably feels like he is playing with house money this year, he is certainly one player to watch out for during the playoffs.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
