Matt Fitzpatrick on Rediscovering His Game: “I Needed to Get Myself Together”

How Matt Fitzpatrick Found Form After the Toughest Stretch of His Career

Golf may be his career, but Matt Fitzpatrick’s heart beats for football. The former US Open champion’s passion for the beautiful game runs so deep, he dreams of one day working in football. For now though, his focus has been firmly on clawing his way back from the biggest slump of his professional life – and judging by recent performances, the 30-year-old might just be on the other side of it.

His tie for fourth at The Open last month was not only a personal best at the tournament, but also a statement of intent. On the rugged Antrim coast, Fitzpatrick finished as the top British golfer, showing flashes of the form that saw him lift the US Open trophy in 2022. That performance, along with four other top-10 finishes since April, is proof that the Englishman is well and truly back in business.

But his comeback hasn’t been smooth. Rewinding to the start of the 2025 season, things looked bleak. A missed cut at The Players, a disappointing Masters showing where he finished 40th, and most significantly, a professional breakup with long-time caddie Billy Foster. The man who was on his bag during that memorable win at Brookline was gone. And shortly after, so was coach Mike Walker.

A Painful Reset: Leaving Behind the Familiar

Matthew Fitzpatrick lines up a putt

“I just didn’t have it,” Fitzpatrick admitted in a candid interview with the BBC. “I’d put in a tonne of work, my coaches had put in so much work and it just didn’t happen.”

The lack of consistency in his ball striking was alarming. “It’s hard when you’re intending to hit a shot and missing it by quite a lot,” he said. Confidence evaporated. He was missing fairways, missing cuts, and missing the spark that had made him one of Europe’s most reliable players.

What followed was a seismic shift in Fitzpatrick’s approach. After more than 15 years working almost exclusively with Walker and Pete Cowen, he turned to a new voice – Alabama-based swing coach Mark Blackburn.

A Fresh Perspective and a New Swing

Blackburn, who counts Max Homa and Justin Rose among his clients, approached Fitzpatrick like a clean slate. First order of business: understand his physical makeup. Turns out, Fitzpatrick’s unusually long arms and limited shoulder flexion weren’t helping him control his swing.

“Which is not great for hitting irons,” Fitzpatrick noted. “Because it’s harder to control the depth of the club, and you are going to hit it heavier more often than not.”

So they went to work. One noticeable change is Fitzpatrick’s pre-shot routine, where he pulls back his shoulders and expands his chest. “It’s basically me trying to pinch my shoulder blades together,” he explained. “That creates the right radius for my arms, so I can just rotate without having to move my arms too much.”

The new routine is helping. Since the Masters, Fitzpatrick has recorded top 10s at the PGA Championship, Scottish Open, and Wyndham Championship. He enters this week’s FedEx St Jude Championship ranked 41st in the FedEx Cup standings, with the top 30 reaching the Tour Championship in Atlanta.

A Steady Support System

Behind every comeback is a solid support network, and Fitzpatrick is no exception.

“My mum and dad and wife Katherine. She was constantly reminding me that I won the US Open; ‘you’re a great player, you’re going to get it back’,” he shared.

That belief in his ability, echoed by those closest to him, helped Fitzpatrick navigate the darkest stretch of his career.

Football Obsession: A Different Kind of Playbook

Even as he rediscovers his swing, Fitzpatrick’s love for football remains ever-present. A die-hard Sheffield United fan, he’s fascinated by the tactical side of the sport and isn’t shy about it.

“People think it’s a joke, but I love football way more than golf,” he said with a smile. “I’m obsessed with football. It’s brilliant for me.”

He’s visited clubs like Brentford and even spoken to Liverpool’s performance team to absorb their use of data, culture, and performance strategies. “How they use data, how culture is so important – just fascinating.”

One day, he hopes to transition into football in some capacity, though he admits it’s wishful thinking for now.

Eyes on the Ryder Cup and Beyond

Fitzpatrick is also eyeing a return to Europe’s Ryder Cup team. Despite a frustrating record – just one win in eight matches – he remains determined.

“Despite my record I still want to be part of it to give myself a chance to improve on it,” he said. With the Ryder Cup at Bethpage looming, he’s motivated to play a key role in Europe’s title defence.

The past 15 months have taught him plenty about resilience, perspective, and the importance of mental health in professional sport.

“There’s been an extra effort to be more forgiving to myself,” he said. “My biggest takeaway from the slump is catching things earlier. I can’t afford to get to that stage again.”

Golf is back to being fun again for Fitzpatrick. The work is paying off, the results are coming, and that familiar glint is back in his eye. Whatever comes next, one thing is certain: Matt Fitzpatrick is once again a player to watch.

And who knows, maybe in a few years, we’ll see him drawing up set pieces on a touchline rather than reading putts on the green.