MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 9, 2023

Matthew Fitzpatrick

Quick Quotes

Q. How good to get that out of your system after a few difficult weeks on TOUR?

MATTHEW FITZPATRICK: Yeah, it's good. It's probably as good as I felt like I played this year, other than Hawaii. Like I said on Wednesday in my press conference, my neck was probably -- really underappreciated that for what it was. Kind of we made a plan these next four weeks from Match Play was kind of a run of events where it's just accepting where I am really, just slowly trying to get back into it.

Yeah, I felt comfortable out there. No neck issues. Driving was good. Irons were much better. Positive week overall.

Q. How much of a momentum killer was the stoppage yesterday? You seemed to be making ground.

MATTHEW FITZPATRICK: Yeah, it was. Part of me was like, oh, yeah, I'm delighted I can go and chill out in the afternoon. Definitely was. I was obviously in a good place with my swing and everything and feelings.

And then for it to obviously be cancelled for the day, like you say, just kind of stops any momentum that I had really, which was disappointing. And came out this morning and just didn't have it at all. That adds to the disappointment.

Q. Are you playing next week? If so, or if not, is the neck one of those things where you need to try to give yourself a break?

MATTHEW FITZPATRICK: No. Like realistically, I shouldn't have played Valspar. That was one that I kind of -- with the golf course I felt suited me, and realistically it was too soon really. I should have had another week off there.

But like I said, the week off after Riviera was kind of a week to let it calm down, and it did. But still needed time, and I was still sore. I lost a lot of ground over those three weeks really to not being able to train or not being able to practice properly or doing any speed stuff.

So that was kind of the downfall, and now just slowly, slowly getting back to where I want to be.

Q. Then also kind of compete opposite, do you feel like this week was much needed for the sport, maybe like a breath of fresh air? Just having Brooks up there contending, having Phil do what he did today. Do you feel like it was needed for the sport?

MATTHEW FITZPATRICK: No, I don't think so. I think -- I thought the game was in a good place. You've got exciting winners on the PGA TOUR every week. No, I think it's just a continuation of the season so far. You've got big names sort of battling it out every week, particularly designated events. I think that's what's been good.

Q. Are the majors better with those guys?

MATTHEW FITZPATRICK: Yeah, of course, absolutely. There's no doubt about it in my opinion. If you win one of these and then not allowed to play, there's always going to be an asterisk, whether you like it or not. I think it's good for the game they're playing. Me personally, it's good to see familiar faces.

Q. What is it about crummy weather and difficult golf courses that brings the best out of you?

MATTHEW FITZPATRICK: I don't know if it necessarily -- I was thinking about this. I got asked last night about it. I don't necessarily think it's that I played that much better. I think, in my honest opinion, I play with a bunch of guys obviously, every single week, different players. I would probably put myself up there as one of, if not the most disciplined.

I think when the weather gets like that, my game plan is still the same. It's the same whether it's everyone's shooting the lights out or everyone's well over par, whereas I think -- I don't know this for a fact. I feel like guys just carry on playing what they normally do, going at flags when they shouldn't and just trying to make a score or trying to make something happen when they don't need to.

I guess that's where I made my ground up. It's not like I do anything crazy. I just plod along.

Q. And the other part of it, the scheduling issues, designated events, like you're going to play next week. Maybe if it wasn't Hilton Head or it was some other course, you probably wouldn't go. Is this making it difficult for you scheduling-wise?

MATTHEW FITZPATRICK: It is and it isn't. I have to be honest, like I just think it's a bit of a mess with the FedExCup points. Realistically, like I shouldn't have played any designated events and should have played the poorer fields, if you like, where you're winning the same amount of points.

I'm kind of staggered by -- I've obviously been in the meetings. We've spoke to PGA TOUR officials, and they say how much they've run the numbers and told us it works out pretty much the same anyway, but I can see it clear as day. It doesn't.

It doesn't make sense to me that you can win the non-designated event with a field that you might have 15 of the top 30, and then you've got designated where you've got pretty much 30, the top 30. Obviously that's going to be a lot harder to win.

I think the points system kind of does throw an interesting equation into the scheduling. Realistically now, should I be looking at non-designated events to fill some space, to try and -- listen, you've still got to go play well at these events, but I just think the PGA TOUR have missed a trick there.

Q. Sounds like you'd be in favor of money deciding rankings.

MATTHEW FITZPATRICK: I don't necessarily think it's money. I've had this decision before, a lot about the European Tour. For me, it should just go down on strokes gained, if you look at it. I think there's got to be a way to be able to weight it. I'm sure there is. I'm sure Matt Brody has it. It should be done on strokes gained, how many points you earn, in my opinion, because right now you've just got to look at FedExCup as clear as day, they're not going to get what necessary they want next year.

There's obviously a long way to go in the season. We're only at the first major. But I think they've definitely missed a trick.