Matt Fitzpatrick insists that the stretch of golf he is currently experiencing represents the strongest period of his professional life, a claim he made while preparing to tee off alongside his father at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. The Englishman’s confidence is buoyed by a remarkable run of form that includes a fourth worldwide victory this season, a three‑shot triumph at the FedEx Open de France on Sunday, adding to three earlier PGA Tour wins that have defined an impressive campaign. Although Fitzpatrick did not finish higher than 14th in any of the 2026 major championships, his overall résumé this year remains impressive. He has amassed six top‑10 finishes in worldwide events in addition to his four titles, a consistency that he proudly cites as evidence of his sustained competitiveness.
In a candid conversation on the Sky Sports Golf podcast, Fitzpatrick reflected, "This is the best period of golf I've played for sure. 2022 was right up there, but I've had three wins and now a fourth.
The real difference has been the steady consistency across the season." He did not shy away from acknowledging the disappointment of his major‑championship performances. "Obviously that [a disappointing major season] is a disappointment. It's the goal of anyone's at the start of the year to contend in the majors – those are what mean the most and those are what matter," he said.
He explained that three of the four majors felt off‑pace for a couple of days each, and in the final one his strategy simply did not work. Nevertheless, he emphasized that these setbacks do not diminish the overall quality of his year.
"At the same time, that doesn't really take anything away from the season as a whole. I have contended a lot in a lot of golf tournaments and that's all you could ask for in a year," he added. Fitzpatrick's recent victory propelled him to the top of the Ryder Cup qualification standings and secured a spot inside the top ten of the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai rankings. At 32, he is also on the cusp of reaching a career‑high world ranking of No.
2, should he deliver a strong performance in the upcoming Scottish event. When pressed about areas for further improvement, Fitzpatrick noted that his team is reviewing several aspects of his game as the season winds down.
"I think there's various bits and pieces that we've looked at. We're coming to the year end and making those decisions on what the off‑season plan needs to be. There are a few things that we've got down already to go to – it's just about how you go about that and how that's structured," he explained.
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship holds personal significance for Fitzpatrick. He previously won the 2023 edition, partnering his mother Sue in the pro‑am component, while this year he teamed up with his father Russell. "I think he might get a few more strokes – he'd probably say that himself!" Fitzpatrick laughed, referring to his dad’s potential impact on the competition.
Earlier in April, he also captured the Zurich Classic of New Orleans alongside his brother Alex, highlighting the family’s deep involvement in the sport. Looking ahead, Fitzpatrick expressed optimism about the upcoming rounds, hoping that tournament organizer Johan Rupert will not drastically adjust his handicap after the recent week’s play.
"We're going to need a big few days I think, to get us in some form of position. Hopefully, Johan doesn’t cut his handicap too much after this past week!
I think he's been playing quite nicely, so you never know – when the pressure's on, it can be a little bit different, but we're there to have a good time and enjoy ourselves," he said. Listeners can hear the full interview on the latest Sky Sports Golf podcast, hosted weekly by Jamie Weir, with episodes available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker, and video versions posted on the Sky Sports Golf YouTube channel. The event itself features a team element where Fitzpatrick’s brother Alex is paired with their mother Sue, competing across the iconic courses of Carnoustie, Kingsbarns Golf Links, and the Old Course at St Andrews.
The field is stacked with talent: defending champion Robert MacIntyre of Scotland, fellow Ryder Cup stalwarts Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton and Justin Rose, as well as major‑champion veterans Brooks Koepka and Cam Smith. Golf fans can tune in for live coverage starting Thursday at midday on Sky Sports Golf, and they can also explore Sky Sports’ latest deals or stream the action without a contract via NOW. Overall, Fitzpatrick’s narrative this season is one of resilience and steady ascent.
While major championships have eluded him this year, his ability to consistently place near the top, secure multiple victories, and climb the world rankings underscores a period of growth that he genuinely believes is the finest of his career. The upcoming Alfred Dunhill Links Championship will not only test his skill on historic Scottish links but also provide a chance to further solidify his claim that he is currently playing the best golf of his life.