Fitz learning to love the links again

US Open champion ‘not proud’ of his record at home major - but is eager to contend this week

The first time Matt Fitzpatrick played at St Andrews, he was literally watched by a man, a woman, and their dog. Today, as the game’s newest major champion, he will be announced in one of the glamour groups for the first round of the 150th Open on Thursday.

Back in the mists of time it was just his mum, dad and the family pet who cheered him on as he came through 36 holes of qualifying followed by four matches to win a junior title.

‘I reached the final again the following year to continue my early love affair with St Andrews but it’s been all downhill here ever since,’ said the 27-year-old, cheerfully, yesterday.

Fitzpatrick has always been at his best on difficult courses, so it is hardly surprising that his liking for the Old Course waned as he played it each year in the Dunhill Links pro-am, where the flags are largely placed in the middle of the greens.

Will it suit him any more this year, given his first Open at St Andrews will be played in positively balmy conditions? ‘I always feel that when it’s hard it becomes much harder for everyone else, that’s how I look at it,’ he said. ‘If it’s still and calm I don’t particularly enjoy that, but let’s see what the week brings.’

It is hardly surprising that Fitzpatrick (right) wants to stay positive. he is keen to rekindle the love that he felt when he first set eyes on the course. ‘I was blown away back then, it was the Old Course and I was desperate to keep winning matches because it would mean another round,’ he recalled.

‘But my personal favourites have always been parkland courses like Brookline, Augusta and harbour Town, and so I grew out of links courses, if you like.

‘Now it’s the 150th Open, I’m the US Open champion and I’m keen to improve on my record in my home major. I love the area and I really want to keep my form going and enjoy the week.’

Fitzpatrick made an encouraging start to life as a major champion at the Scottish Open last week, finishing joint sixth. It continued his impressive consistency over the last eight months, with 10 top 10s in his last 16 starts.

As he intimated, it is at great odds with his Open record, with a modest 20th placing at Royal Portrush in 2019 his best in six appearances. ‘It’s nothing to be proud of, that’s for sure,’ he said. ‘I think a lot of that has to do with the fact I don’t think I’m as good a player in the wind since I started playing in America. We’re working on it.’

Fitzpatrick said before the Scottish that he considered the ideal preparation for a major was to play well the week before, but not that well. ‘Yes, I ticked the boxes in that regard,’ he said, smiling.

‘I’ll be honest, I was a bit apprehensive before the start because it is so different to the parkland golf that we have been playing all year in the States. I walked off happy on Sunday. It was nice to see that I’ve still got it, if you like.’

Fitzpatrick is such a grounded individual, it is hard to imagine life changing too much despite his newly-elevated status.

‘It’s funny, when you are on the outside looking in and you are seeing major winners doing all these press conferences, you’re thinking, “I want some of that,”’ he said.

‘ Then, when it happens, it becomes, “Oh, that’s quite a lot.” But it is all good so far. It definitely is going to take some getting used to and I’m sure it will feel even more that way during this event.

‘ I’m looking forward to feeling the love of the

crowd.’