Golf Apr 19, 2026

Matt Fitzpatrick confident for Masters after finding 'missing link' at The Players and Valspar Championship

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Matt Fitzpatrick confident for Masters after finding 'missing link' at The Players and Valspar Championship

Matt Fitzpatrick is in a confident frame of mind ahead of The Masters, after finding the "missing link" in his game helped him win the Valspar Championship.

The Englishman bounced back from disappointment at The Players , adding to previous victories at the US Open in 2022 and RBC Heritage in 2023.

Fitzpatrick had led The Players by one shot after 16 holes last Sunday, only for a par-bogey finish see him overhauled by Cameron Young in the PGA Tour's flagship event at TPC Sawgrass.

However, the 31-year-old rebounded this weekend, with a closing birdie from around 14 feet at Innisbrook Resort seeing him pip David Lipsky by one shot.

Fitzpatrick was ecstatic with his approach play, something he will look to take into Augusta National live on Your Site from April 9, with his best Masters finish to date a share of seventh place in 2016.

On the impending first major of the season, he joked: "I'm probably going to win! No, no!

"I mean, I'm obviously very confident in my game right now. But what it takes to win a major is very different to what it takes to win on the PGA Tour, in my opinion.

"Particularly the Masters. There's extra pressure there, no matter who you are. It just has that standing above all the other events, as well as the majors.

"I'm coming away from this week delighted with where my game's at but there's stuff I want to improve. I want to make sure when I get to Augusta I'm ready that Thursday morning."

Speaking in more detail about what is going right in his game, Fitzpatrick said: "There's a big difference in my approach play.

"My irons are just so much better - better control, better distance control, better accuracy left-to-right. Hitting the shape that I want to hit.

"Me and [golf coach] Mark Blackburn had a great session last Thursday that felt like it really helped me. It's made a big difference over the last seven rounds of golf I've played.

"I knew going into [round four of the Valspar Championship] that I was first in approach play for the first three rounds.

"I don't know where I ended up finishing but that's a big difference from where I've come from in the past.

"I have always felt like my short game's been good enough, felt my driving's always been good enough and putting's been good enough.

"Approach play always felt like it was the missing link. So far this year it's been really good and last year it was really good as well.

"It's just about continuing that and keeping improving as much as I can and giving myself more opportunities."

Watch The Masters live on Your Site from April 9-12. The next PGA Tour event is the Texas Children's Houston Open, live on Sports Golf from 12.30pm on Thursday.

Tags:

golf news

Share this article

Related Posts

Charley Hull: Englishwoman makes history by moving to career-high world No 3 with latest Ladies European Tour victory

Charley Hull: Englishwoman makes history by moving to career-high world No 3 with latest Ladies European Tour victory

Charley Hull has moved to world No 3 in the latest Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings – the highest-ever position by an Englishwoman in the rankings’ 2...

Charley Hull wins LET's PIF Saudi Ladies International title to open account for 2026 season in one-shot triumph

Charley Hull wins LET's PIF Saudi Ladies International title to open account for 2026 season in one-shot triumph

Charley Hull won the season-opening Ladies European Tour event with a one-shot victory at the LET's PIF Saudi Ladies International in Riyadh after an...

AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am: Collin Morikawa edges PGA Tour thriller after Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy produce big finishes

AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am: Collin Morikawa edges PGA Tour thriller after Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy produce big finishes

Collin Morikawa claimed a first PGA Tour title since 2023 with a dramatic one-shot victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, where Scottie Scheffle...

Tyrrell Hatton among eight DP World Tour members allowed to play in conflicting LIV Golf tournaments - but not Jon Rahm

Tyrrell Hatton among eight DP World Tour members allowed to play in conflicting LIV Golf tournaments - but not Jon Rahm

Tyrrell Hatton is among eight DP World Tour members to have been granted permission to play in conflicting tournaments on the LIV Golf circuit in 2026...

DP World Tour: Marco Penge beats Rory McIlroy to Seve Ballesteros Award for 2025 player of the year

DP World Tour: Marco Penge beats Rory McIlroy to Seve Ballesteros Award for 2025 player of the year

England's Marco Penge has won the 2025 Seve Ballesteros Award after being voted the DP World Tour player of the year by his peers. The 27-year-old enj...

Rory McIlroy calls on Team Europe to cut down crowd abuse at 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in Ireland

Rory McIlroy calls on Team Europe to cut down crowd abuse at 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in Ireland

Rory McIlroy does not want a repeat of the abuse which surrounded him during Europe's Ryder Cup victory over the United States at Bethpage Black when...