No bombs needed for Fitz to fire

MaTT FITzPaTRICk finished last year with eight top-15 finishes in a row to move into the world’s top 30 at the age of just 23. But he still ended up wondering what he had to do to catch contemporaries like Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas in the top five.

His conclusion? Stop worrying about what he doesn’t have, and trying to hit booming drives in the manner of Rahm and Thomas, and concentrate on his strengths, such as a fabulous short game and peerless putting stroke.

‘I’m going to work on those things like luke Donald did at his peak and let’s not forget he was world no 1 and contended regularly for majors,’ said Fitzpatrick. ‘I’ll probably find another 10 yards through the air off the tee through better technique and equipment but I’m never going to be a bomber so there’s no point worrying about it.’

He made a good start with his new philosophy on Sunday. on a bomber’s course in abu Dhabi, and despite being comfortably outdriven by Rory McIlroy, he beat him by a stroke and finished alongside the northern Irishman in third place overall.

one thing Fitzpatrick has over Donald is he is a proven winner at a far younger age. Donald was 27 before he collected his first title. Fitzpatrick has four European Tour victories to his name already.