VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP

March 21, 2026

Matt Fitzpatrick

Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead)

Quick Quotes

Q. Bogey-free 68. How are you feeling after that round today?

MATT FITZPATRICK: Yeah, really good round. I played really solid. Drove the ball really well, which was important. Yesterday didn't end up quite as good. So nice to bounce back there.

Q. Last week you were in contention, how much of that has been on your mind after this round going into the final round tomorrow?

MATT FITZPATRICK: Definitely a little bit. You're always thinking about past experience, trying to draw on that and that's what I did today as well and going into tomorrow will be the same thing. It's something that you just got to be patient with out there and you've got to use that to your advantage as best you can.

Q. Can you talk about the previous times you played this course and how you've drawn on that and kind of adjusted to have a great week so far?

MATT FITZPATRICK: Yeah, obviously I played it a few times. I like the layout. I think it's a tough golf course. It's demanding off the tee, demanding into the greens. You have to play well. You have to hit good golf shots. I feel like to be able to come out and do that for three rounds so far is obviously a huge positive. So hopefully can do the same again tomorrow, be patient with myself and give myself a good chance.

Q. What part of your game is going to be most important on this course tomorrow?

MATT FITZPATRICK: I think off the tee. You put the ball in play off the tee and you'll give yourself a chance going into the green. The greens are so firm you can't afford to be coming out of the rough for the second shots, just because you can't control your ball. So, yeah, that's probably the biggest thing that I'll rely on tomorrow. Hopefully drive it as well as today and you never know.

Q. You've won on very different places, different courses, what would it mean for you to be able to win here tomorrow?

MATT FITZPATRICK: Yeah, it would be awesome. That's why we are here this week, everyone's here to try and win the golf tournament and I'm obviously no different. It's a big week after THE PLAYERS, it's a great run in towards the Masters now. Obviously playing well tomorrow and if I was lucky enough to win, then it would be a great start to my season.

Q. It's not unusual for players who are in the thick of it on Sunday right down the stretch to have a let down the following week. You've got three rounds in the 60s. How have you been able to kind of keep that going?

MATT FITZPATRICK: I think just managing energy levels and expectations. I think obviously I've been playing well, I've been confident in how I've been playing. I think playing into that a little bit, just knowing that trusting where my golf swing is and that can I hit the shots that I want to hit. Also just having the patience. It's obviously been a long two, two and a half weeks and just having that patience is important.

Q. Is it more of a mental thing or a physical thing to keep it going?

MATT FITZPATRICK: I would say more of a mental thing. Particularly when you're under the gun so much and you're under that pressure to compete and you are scrambling and you're trying to make a birdie putt, it just gets a lot. So to manage that is the most important.

Q. Because you were right in the mix of it six days ago, do you feel like that's any sort of advantage tomorrow?

MATT FITZPATRICK: Yeah, for sure. I think as much as you can be in the mix as often as possible there's no doubt that that's better for anyone. I think just having that experience and knowing the feelings and emotions that come with that as well as the pressure that comes with that. So I definitely feel that having that experience is always better than not, for sure.