GOLF: Matt Fitzpatrick advising brother as he brings win streak to Truist

Two weeks ago, Matt Fitzpatrick helped his brother Alex Fitzpatrick earn his PGA Tour card through 2028 after their dual victory at the Zurich Classic team event.

This week, the brothers will compete together as full-time PGA Tour players for the first time at the Truist Championship in Charlotte, held at Quail Hollow Club. For Matt, who has significantly more PGA Tour experience while Alex previously played full-time on the DP World Tour before earning his card, the 31-year-old says he feels responsible for guiding his younger brother through the transition.

“Definitely. I think it would be wrong of me not to (play practice rounds) with him and help him out as much as I can. He’s been thrown in the deep end straight away and it’s all happening very fast, so I feel like I have an obligation to help him too,” Fitzpatrick said. “I’ve already said to him, ‘If you don’t want that, you can tell me to mind my own business.’ I don’t want to feel like I’m getting involved in all these decisions and stuff, that’s his thing. I just kind of want to offer my two cents, if you like, and see where it goes.”

Alex showed strong form on his own last week at the Cadillac Championship, finishing tied for ninth in his first event since securing his PGA Tour status.

Matt, meanwhile, took last week’s signature event off after winning back-to-back tournaments at the RBC Heritage and Zurich Classic. Although it was a break from competition, it was not a typical celebratory week given his recent success.

“I spent last week at home in Florida with my wife and my parents. We had a little bit of off-course stuff to do with the house that I bought,” Fitzpatrick said. “I think that kind of occupied me for most of the week, which was nice to not have to think about golf for a little bit.”

Matt’s breakthrough PGA Tour win came at the 2022 U.S. Open, followed by a 2023 victory at the RBC Heritage. He then went through a winless stretch before returning to form this year with a win at the Valspar Championship.

His three victories in a five-week span now exceed his total wins from his first 11 years on tour combined, pushing him up to fourth in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Reflecting on his game since his U.S. Open breakthrough, Fitzpatrick noted how his performance has evolved.

“My DNA is definitely different. The makeup of my game at that point in time was pretty much great driving of the golf ball—really, really good. I was long and straight at that point. I hit my irons pretty well at that time too,” he said. “Now I feel like I’m driving it probably just as well, maybe not quite as long, but I’m just as straight if not straighter, and my irons are another level above. That combination, along with putting well, which has always been a strength, is a nice mix.”

Fitzpatrick also has recent success at Quail Hollow, where he finished tied for eighth at last year’s PGA Championship, adding confidence heading into this week’s family-linked debut on Tour. -Field Level Media/Reuters