The Fitzpatrick brothers have made history by becoming the first siblings to win on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour in back-to-back weeks.
On Sunday, Alex followed Matt’s success in Tampa with victory at the Hero Indian Open, courtesy of a remarkable back nine.
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Rory McIlroy has called the DLF Country Club in Gurgaon, India, “the most infamous golf course in the world”. Indeed, the Gary Player design is so demanding that it verges on the comical. So for Fitzpatrick to reel off five birdies in seven holes from the 11th – including on the 17th, which McIlroy believes could be the toughest par four on earth – was deeply impressive. Especially as this was the Yorkshireman’s first win on Tour.
Granted, he took a double-bogey seven down the last, but it says so much about the severity of the challenge near Delhi that Fitzpatrick was probably wise to play the par five so cautiously and ensure that he still beat Spain’s Eugenio Chacarra by two shots.
Fitzpatrick, who has inevitably been progressing in the shadow of major-winning sibling Matt, was emotional after signing for his 69 for a nine-under total.
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“I’ll try and explain how this feels without crying,” the 27-year-old said. “It’s been a lot of hard work for a long time. It can be hard sometimes when you’re constantly chasing someone’s accolades but luckily it’s my brother. It’s extremely nice to join him in the winners’ ranks and hopefully I can continue to push on. I idolise him so I’m just trying to be like him in every way. So yeah, hopefully we can keep doing well.”
Alex (right) says he ‘idolises’ brother Matt, who won the US Open in 2022 – Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
It is understood that Matt, who lives in Florida and is busy preparing for his tilt at next week’s Masters, was up in the middle of the night to watch Alex fulfil one of his lifelong dreams. It would have made for exhilarating viewing, as Alex tore into the six-shot deficit opened by Chacarra, the former LIV prodigy.
There were two bogeys on his outward half, but he stood firm and later explained the mentality he felt compelled to adopt. “This course is so hard that you almost have to forget the past shots or previous holes,” Fitzpatrick said.
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“Just make your birdies if and when you have the chance. On Friday I had nine birdies and I didn’t know until I’d finished – today was eight. It’s a rollercoaster and you just have to try keep your focus. But for my first victory, to win on a layout as tough as this… well, it’s pretty special.
“I was in contention in South Africa a few weeks ago [at the Joburg Open, where he finished sixth behind countryman Dan Bradbury] and what I took from that experience is that if you kind of stick around for a while, hopefully a door will open. And luckily for me it was today.”
Matt was quick to share his congratulations. “Alex Fitzpatrick, DP World Tour champion,” he posted on X. “That’s pretty cool. Proud of you.”
Alex still has some way to catch up with Matt. The latter is riding high at world No 6 after his success at the Valspar Championship and previous week’s runner-up finish at The Players. Alex is projected to rise into the top 150 after this breakthrough. But his potential should not be underestimated, as Pete Cowen explains.
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The coach, who has worked with the likes of McIlroy, Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke and Henrik Stenson, oversaw the Fitzpatricks as they developed.
“Being from Sheffield and having seen them both hard at work at my range in Rotherham over the years, it’s great to see both of them achieving their childhood ambition,” he said. “Matt has always been the calmer of the two and under pressure that mindset has made him a winner. Alex on the other hand has a ball speed close to 200mph and has a more aggressive attitude.
“They are a great mix and wouldn’t it be great to see both of them paired together in a Ryder Cup? Two young lads from rainy old Sheffield showing the world that golf is not a sport for the elite and privileged.”
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