THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

March 15, 2026

Matt Fitzpatrick

TPC Sawgrass

Quick Quotes

Q. Awesome week and awesome day. Talk us through that final hole.

MATT FITZPATRICK: Yeah, I mean, I picked up the tee quickly. I felt like I hit a good shot, maybe pushed it slightly. Both felt that the wind was a little bit off the right. Obviously I know Cam hits a draw. His moved a little bit, as well. Figured mine would do the same. Obviously just gone dead straight.

I think that's what's made 17 so difficult over the last few years, and obviously even the last there, with the amount of hospitality now, it makes the wind swirl a little bit. Obviously mine has just gone dead straight there and just run through.

Like I say, I felt like I hit a good drive, and once you're out of position it's difficult to make your par.

Q. You got off to such a good start. At what point did you think you had a real shot of getting this done?

MATT FITZPATRICK: I felt like I -- it's easy to say the later in the round, the more likely you've got a shot. But I felt like getting 3-under through 4 early was good. I felt like if I could sort of -- it was disappointing not to get up-and-down on both par-5s on the back nine, again, just not good enough there. You do that on 9, you make the turn at 12, and you really feel like you're in it. Obviously managed to make two quick birdies there on 13 and 14 to give myself -- to lead at that point.

Yeah, I just felt like I did a ton of really good stuff. It's obviously frustrating not to come away with a little bit better.

Q. I think it's your first top 3 on TOUR since 2023. Talk about where you're at with your game. It's been so much better over the last few weeks.

MATT FITZPATRICK: Yeah, yeah. I think the big thing is I believe in my own ability. I feel like I've been doing a ton of good work with Mark Blackburn and just really, really seen so many positive signs over the last 12 months, really.

I feel like I don't -- I was saying last night to my psychologist, I feel like I'm very good at getting myself into position between 15 and 5. I don't feel like -- I don't feel like I get in enough positions between 5 and 1st. I feel like if I can do that, obviously it's easier said than done, then I believe I will win more. It's obviously easier said than done, but I back myself down the stretch, and I feel like if I can do that, then it'll be good things.

Q. What was it like playing with Cam all day, going back and forth?

MATT FITZPATRICK: Yeah, great. I love Cam. He's such a nice guy. He's so laid back; it's so nice. Always knew we were going to have a good day today, just obviously both comfortable around each other, and it was.

Q. What were your thoughts on the crowd out here, and did it have an effect on the final few holes?

MATT FITZPATRICK: Listen, the crowd, that was literally child's play compared to Bethpage. If they think that that was anything, then they need to reassess. Get yourself up to New York.

Listen, that's how it is. That's how it is. I would hope it's the exact same if -- well, it probably wouldn't be because we're a little bit more polite in Europe, I would say, but I would hope it would be of similar intensity in Europe.

I knew it was coming. I had it with Jordan Spieth in 2023. Yeah, it's funny to me. I find it hilarious.