Despite a $1.76 Million Payday, Matt Fitzpatrick Ultimately Fails to Surpass Fellow Englishman in Ryder Cup Standings

Securing a spot on the Ryder Cup teams is a patriotic dream for any golfer. Six captain’s picks each will be finalized by Team US Captain Zach Johnson and Team Europe Captain Luke Donald. Some players have already secured their place by virtue of automatic qualification, while others are waiting to hear back.

For those golfers who performed exceptionally this season and gathered enough World Points, Europe Points, and USA Points for automatic spots, the waiting game is bearable. Not so much for the others. Matt Fitzpatrick is so close to the horizon but what does his fate hold?

Is Matt Fitzpatrick’s patriotic dream bidding him goodbye?

The English golfer performed exceptionally at the exclusive second event of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. He earned himself second place with a $1.76 million payout and secured his position among the top 30 in this week’s final playoff at the Tour Championship. However, he lost his auto spot at the 2023 Ryder Cup because of a single birdie putt that did not go as expected on the 18th hole of the final round at the Olympia Fields.

Tommy Fleetwood, who finished T25 at the BMW Championship 2023, surpassed the 28-year-old golfer on the World Points list as of 21st August. The English golfer who finished in third place at the St. Jude’s Championship the previous week has had spectacular top-10 finishes this season even though he did not clinch any title, his World Points and European points are soaring above Fitzpatrick’s.

A helpful analyst of the sport reported that players will find it hard to beat the points of Fleetwood. Fitzpatrick’s dream has not yet dissipated though. Many golfers “cannot reach Tommy even with 2 wins,” said the post. They will now need to wait for Captain Donald to pick them.

The points list also shows that Matt Fitzpatrick isn’t the only golfer to have lost his auto spot. Brooks Koepka, who has long-awaited his opportunity to play for his country, has a bitterly disappointing revelation.

Brooks Koepka also lost his Ryder Cup dream

For a while now, golf fans regardless of their loyalty to the PGA Tour or LIV Golf have been waiting to see if the captain of Smash GC will earn a place on Team US of Ryder Cup. Brooks Koepka‘s auto spot that he secured with his win at the PGA Championship and second-place finish at the Masters Tournament was already on thin ice as he hasn’t accumulated any points while playing on the breakaway circuit. The rebel league doesn’t count for the OWGR as of now.

Now he has rolled off the top 6 positions. Even though he made a long-standing impact on the American tour tournaments (participation was possible through exemptions), his dreams of the Ryder Cup are slipping fast through his fingers. Looks like Matt Fitzpatrick isn’t the only one saying goodbye to his patriotic dreams.

Also Read: While Matt Fitzpatrick Surges Ahead, His Veteran Caddie Confesses His Strong Feelings on Exclusion of LIV Defectors From The Grand Stage: ‘A Shame’

Do you think Fitzpatrick can edge out Fleetwood with a captain’s pick? Who are the players you want to see on both Ryder Cup teams this year? Share your personal player picks with us in the comments below.

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