Matt Fitzpatrick with the trophy on Swilcan Bridge with his mother and playing partner Susan. Photo: Getty Images/Charlie Crowhurst
Never Remember the £670,000 first prize for winning the Dunhill Links. Never mind that Matt Fitzpatrick has risen to a career-high ranking of seventh in the world, or that he can call himself a champion on the Old Course.
Instead, Fitzpatrick insisted that what he will remember most about this DP World Tour title is winning the professional portion of the event with his mother Susan.
“Even despite all my victories, except for the main championship, you forget about them, but you always remember the one you won with your mother,” he said. “It doesn’t get any better than this. We will always have this photo of me and mom on the Svilkan Bridge with our trophy. It will take pride of place alongside the US Open photographs.”
It was a happy ending to five days that saw the weekend blighted by storms hitting Scotland. With the field reduced to 54 holes, Fitzpatrick, who arrived in Fife straight from the Ryder Cup in which he had contributed to Europe's victory, put together brilliant rounds of 67, 64 and 66 at Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and St Andrews to score 19- to sum it up.
Fitzpatrick, 29, was forced to wait more than 90 minutes to ensure the silver was available as his compatriot Marcus Armitage was in custody in Carnoustie. But he ran out of holes and fell three shots behind, tied with defending champion Ryan Fox and Matthew Southgate.
“It’s amazing because it’s hard to win,” Fitzpatrick said. “It was kind of a free week, just playing with my mom and trying to have as much fun as possible and see what happens. Then I played really well at Carnoustie and was absolutely brilliant in the last two rounds. To win at St Andrews is fantastic, it's a special place. We've been coming here for a long time.»
The moment @MattFitz94 sealed his ninth DP World Tour win 💪 #dunhilllinks pic.twitter.com/5IvqXjI7Zy
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) October 9, 2023 .
Fitzpatrick is only the second player after Padraig Harrington to complete the Dunhill Double, winning both the individual and team trophies. The Fitzpatricks' victory mirrored that of Sam Torrance and his son Daniel in 2003. However, Fitzpatrick's solo achievement gives them the edge. This became even more remarkable after Susan admitted that she hardly plays.
“I have a brace in my left knee and I really need to get it sorted out, but the discomfort was worth it just so I could play with Matt again,” she said.
Susan contributed three birdies and a 59 to take the pair to 35 under and secure a five-stroke triumph over Dane Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen and his partner Ervie Botha, a South African asset manager. . Fitzpatrick was full of praise.
“Mum gave us a great back nine and she played great again all day. I was just helping guide her,” he said. “One of my close friends, Josh, is in and he’s been a great help to her.
“We worked really well together. Last year we had problems on this front. But this year, every time I made par, Mom made a birdie. She's been great this week and I'll never forget it.»
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