Matthew Fitzpatrick’s dream win at St Andrews – Ryan Fox joint runner-up
Fitzpatrick with his Alfred Dunhill Links Championship trophy – image Getty Images / DP World Tour
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship found a way to get a final result despite the event being hopelessly compromised by bad weather in the At Andrews region, Matthew Fitzpatrick emerging as the winner of both the individual title and pairing with his mother Susan to win the teams’ event.
Reduced to 54 holes and carried over to Monday due to the weather on Saturday and Sunday, Fitzpatrick extended his one-shot 36-hole lead to eventually win by three over New Zealand’s Ryan Fox and England’s Marcus Armitage.
“It’s amazing,” said Fitzpatrick. “Winning is difficult. And for me, like I had a chance a few weeks ago in Switzerland and that one hurt a lot. Felt like I had been playing better than I had in the summer.
“And this week, funny, really. It was kind of a bit of a free-wheeling week and just playing with my mum and trying to enjoy it as best I can and see what happened. Then played really well at Carnoustie and just got on a hot run these last two rounds.
“Doesn’t get better than this. Winning at St Andrews, yeah, it’s just a very special place. We’ve been coming here for a long, long time as well, and yes, it doesn’t get better.
“It was amazing. We (he and his mother) obviously played last year and didn’t quite play so well, and this year, she’s played fantastic, and I playing really solid as well.
“I just think that, yeah, you just couldn’t ask for a better week.”
Fox did remarkably well in his attempt to defend the title he had won twelve months ago when producing a final round of 65 to finish in a share of second place after six birdies in his opening eleven holes opened to door to repeat the heroics of 2022.
Fox was unable to build on that great start but another fine tournament will see him move back inside the top 30 in the world ranking to 29th and, on top of his win three weeks ago at Wentworth and his earlier 3rd place at the Irish Open, continues a lucrative run for the 36-year-old.
Fox has won over €2 million in those three events alone in September and October.
“To be honest I played great today,” said Fox when asked before Fitzpatrick had finished his round. “I think I hit all 18 greens, which is always a nice thing to do around here and I was cold with the putter for the most part. I made a couple through the middle of the round and that was about it.
“I had a couple nice chances on 14, 15, and if they had gone in, things would have been a little more interesting but obviously to shoot 7-under on a Monday with a chance, you feel like you’ve done enough. Obviously, Fitz is playing great. I’m happy.”
The leader of the 2022/2023 PGA Tour of Australasian Order of Merit, David Micheluzzi was the next best of the Australians, earning a cheque for €60,000 (A$100,000) for his share of 14th place. It was the biggest cheque to date in the Victorian’s professional career.
FINAL ROUND HIGHLIGHTS
