Matt Fitzpatrick insists that the stretch of golf he is currently enjoying represents the best 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 recently added a fourth worldwide victory to his résumé, edging out the competition by three strokes to win the FedEx Open de France on Sunday. This triumph follows three earlier wins on the PGA Tour, underscoring a season that has been nothing short of remarkable.
Although Fitzpatrick did not break into the top 14 at any of the major championships in 2026, his overall record remains impressive. He logged six top‑10 finishes across the globe, complemented by his quartet of victories. The consistency of his play, he explained, is what truly sets this period apart.
"This is the best period of golf I've played for sure," he told the Sky Sports Golf podcast. "2022 was right up there, but I've had three wins and now a fourth. The sustained consistency has been the big thing." Fitzpatrick did not shy away from acknowledging the disappointment of his major‑championship campaign. "Obviously that [a disappointing major season] is a disappointment.
It's the goal of anyone 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 described three of the four majors as days when he felt a little off, and admitted that in the final major his strategy faltered and his performance suffered. Yet he quickly put those setbacks into perspective, emphasizing that they do not diminish the overall quality of his season.
"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. The recent victory in France propelled Fitzpatrick to the top of the Ryder Cup qualification leaderboard and secured him a place inside the top ten of the DP World Tour's Race to Dubai rankings.
At 32, a strong showing at the upcoming Alfred Dunhill Links Championship could catapult him to a career‑high world ranking of No. 2. When pressed about areas for improvement, Fitzpatrick noted that his team is already reviewing various aspects of his game as the season draws to a close. "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," he explained. He added that a few specific goals have already been identified, and the focus now is on how to structure the work required to achieve them.
The Dunhill Links event holds personal significance for Fitzpatrick. He won the 2023 edition of the tournament in the pro‑am format with his mother, Sue, as his partner. This year, he is paired with his father, Russell, for the team competition. "I think he might get a few more strokes – he'd probably say that himself!" Fitzpatrick joked, referencing his father's occasional mischief on the course.
The family connection runs deep: earlier in April, Matt teamed up with his younger brother, Alex Fitzpatrick, to capture the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Looking ahead, Fitzpatrick expressed optimism about the upcoming days of competition. "We're going to need a big few days I think, to get us in some form of position. Hopefully, Johan [Rupert, tournament organiser] doesn't cut his handicap too much after this past week!" he said, referring to the tournament director's potential adjustments to the course setup.
"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." Listeners can catch the full interview on the latest edition of the Sky Sports Golf podcast, hosted weekly by Jamie Weir. The episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker, while video versions are posted on the Sky Sports Golf YouTube channel.
The team element of this year's Dunhill Links sees Matt's brother Alex joining their mother Sue, forming a family trio that will compete across three iconic venues: Carnoustie, Kingsbarns Golf Links, and the Old Course at St Andrews. Defending champion Robert MacIntyre of Scotland returns to defend his title, while a strong Ryder Cup contingent—including Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, and Justin Rose—adds further depth to the field. Past major winners such as Brooks Koepka and Cam Smith also plan to take part, promising a high‑quality showdown.
With live coverage set to begin Thursday at midday on Sky Sports Golf, fans can follow the action in real time. Those interested in streaming the tournament without a contract can do so via NOW, which also offers the latest Sky Sports deals.
Whether you are rooting for the Fitzpatrick family, the defending champion, or any of the seasoned major winners, the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship promises a thrilling display of skill, tradition, and competitive spirit.