When it comes to Matthew Fitzpatrick, few players had more to prove heading into the 2023 Ryder Cup. He failed to secure a win in any of his matches across his first two appearances in the previous event.
He was not alone in finding it tough at Whistling Straits back in 2021. Fitzpatrick was one of three from Padraig Harrington’s team who did not pick up a point, as Team USA cruised to their largest-ever win over Europe.
And with two losses already on his debut five years before, there was plenty of talk about his record ahead of Rome. It is the kind of noise that tends to follow you around until you find a way to quiet it.
Luke Donald tried to help him get off the mark by pairing him with Rory McIlroy for Friday afternoon at Marco Simone. They were drawn against Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele, not exactly an easy pairing.
What Rory McIlroy said to Matthew Fitzpatrick after their Ryder Cup win in Rome
Fitzpatrick looked comfortable from the start, making several key putts and helping Europe take a 5&3 win. That victory gave Europe a commanding 6.5-1.5 lead after the first day in Italy.
For him, it was not just about the team result – it was an important milestone on a personal level, and Rory McIlroy clearly understood what it meant.
Speaking to The Times ahead of the 2025 Ryder Cup, Fitzpatrick recalled what McIlroy said to him after they won their match.
“I remember Rory specifically saying he was so proud to be with me when I got my first point. I appreciated that from someone who is now one of the golfing greats. That point meant a lot.”
Matthew Fitzpatrick did not think he would make the 2025 Ryder Cup team for Bethpage Black
It became clear early on that Luke Donald was not planning to overhaul the squad that had reclaimed the Ryder Cup in 2023. The core of that team was always likely to remain intact, but there were questions around a few spots, Fitzpatrick’s included.
He had a slow start to the 2025 PGA Tour season, missing four cuts in his first 10 events and failing to post a top-20 finish during that stretch. By then, it looked like his chances of making the squad were slim.
But his form started to improve around the time of the PGA Championship. He carried that momentum into The Open at Royal Portrush, where he finished tied for fourth – a result that put him back into contention.
According to Fitzpatrick, accepting that he was unlikely to make the team actually helped him play better.
“To be completely honest, this has probably been the easiest Ryder Cup cycle I’ve ever had,” he said. “2016 was horrendous because it was my first and I was desperate to make the team. In 2021 and 2023 I qualified for the team fairly comfortably.
“This time, I was relying on a captain’s pick and, when they started being spoken about, I was miles off the list. I didn’t play well last year, I didn’t play well at the start of this season. It wasn’t a burden at all because I’d accepted the fact I wasn’t going to play and I was okay with that. That was actually probably a big help.”
The next step for him will be picking up a point on American soil. Though if Europe manage to retain the trophy again, personal stats will be far from his main concern.
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