Team Camaraderie Can Wait! With a $1.5M Crown at Stake, Matt Fitzpatrick Coolly Pushes Ryder Cup Bonding to the Back of His Mind

As the Ryder Cup nears, the European team’s preparations create a buzz among golf enthusiasts. While the action unfolds at the BMW PGA Championship, fans are eagerly anticipating the showdown between Team USA and the European team. With renowned golfers participating in this year’s Ryder Cup, the sports world awaits to see who will emerge victorious on European soil.

This time, it seems there’s more to the story than just the quest for the championship title. Taking the spotlight at the BMW PGA Championship, Matt Fitzpatrick‘s seemingly laid-back approach to the Ryder Cup raises questions about whether it is a calculated professional strategy or simply a facet of his gameplay.

BMW PGA Championship: Setting the ground for the Ryder Cup?

On the first day of the BMW PGA Championship, the European team made a remarkable start at Wentworth Golf Club in Virginia Water, Surrey, England. Matt Fitzpatrick had a stellar beginning, posting an impressive score of 66. He expressed his satisfaction with his exceptional performance, particularly highlighting his strong driving and putting skills.

When asked about the course’s challenges, including the elevated rough in certain areas and the importance of positioning the ball on the right side of the pin, Fitzpatrick acknowledged these difficulties. He added, “Yeah, definitely. I think the greens are maybe a hair firmer than they have been the last couple of years.”

He further underlined his primary goal of winning the current tournament and added, “I’m here to try to win this week. I’ll start focusing on the Ryder Cup once Sunday finishes.” The 29-year-old concluded by adding, “This week we’re here to play as well as we can and see what we can do.”

After an impressive performance on day one, where eleven of the twelve European Ryder Cup participants shot par or better at Wentworth, it was Matt Fitzpatrick (-6), Ludvig Aberg (-4), and Tyrrell Hatton (-4) who led the charge for the European team. This strong start indicated the Europeans’ readiness to compete for victory on their home turf once again.

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Fitzpatrick stands out among Europe’s Ryder Cup contenders at Wentworth

Fitzpatrick, who has been in excellent form with three consecutive top-10 finishes, is now the favorite to win the tournament after his impressive 66 on Thursday.

He played alongside Robert MacIntyre and Justin Rose and performed the best among the Ryder Cup squad. He started with four birdies in his first six holes, and he finished with an 18-foot birdie putt on the final hole to tie for second place with Richie Ramsay.

Marcus Helligkilde ranked 232nd, delivered an outstanding performance, making seven birdies in a nine-hole stretch and finishing with an 8-under 64, taking a two-stroke lead in the tournament.

However, Europe’s top-ranked players, Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm, struggled in their rounds, shooting 72 and 71, respectively. The upcoming Ryder Cup remained a significant subplot for them.

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