Alex Fitzpatrick taken aback by how PGA Tour peers treated him
Alex Fitzpatrick says he was taken aback by how warmly PGA Tour players and caddies welcomed him on his first start as a member at the Cadillac Championship. After winning the Zurich Classic with brother Matt to earn his card, he told No Laying Up that nearly every player and caddie congratulated him, helping him feel at ease right away.
Key Takeaways
- Alex Fitzpatrick earned PGA Tour membership by winning the Zurich Classic of New Orleans alongside brother Matt.
- On his first start as a member at the Cadillac Championship, nearly every player and caddie welcomed him.
- He finished tied for ninth at Doral and has posted multiple top-10 finishes this season.
- He credited time around major champion Matt Fitzpatrick for helping him feel comfortable among stars.
How did PGA Tour players treat Alex Fitzpatrick?
Speaking on the No Laying Up podcast, as reported by HITC, the 27-year-old Englishman called the Miami reception "unbelievable."
"I had every player pretty much and every caddie come up to me and my caddie and be like, 'hey, we're happy you're here. Great work'," he said. "That was something I was a little taken aback by, because I didn't really know how people would respond to me being out there."
Victory at the Zurich Classic in April also brought entry into the remaining signature events and a spot in the 2027 Players Championship. Some critics questioned awarding a full card through a team event, but Fitzpatrick said the locker room and range response left him feeling comfortable straight away.
Why did Alex Fitzpatrick feel so comfortable so quickly?
Part of that ease, he explained, comes from growing up around his brother Matt, one of the best players in the world. Being near that level, he said, made the jump onto bigger stages feel more natural.
"I've come to the conclusion that these superstars, they're literally just human beings who are pretty good at a sport," Fitzpatrick added. "They're just normal people who play golf for a living."
He said he does not get starstruck in golf and that signature events simply mean sharing tees with elite players and getting on with the job. "Golf is golf, and it doesn't change no matter where you are in the world."
Where does Alex Fitzpatrick stand after his breakthrough season?
Beyond the Zurich win, Fitzpatrick claimed his maiden DP World Tour title at the Hero Indian Open earlier in the year. After securing PGA Tour membership, he has recorded four top-10 finishes in nine starts, according to reports covering his season.
Momentum dipped with a missed cut at the Scottish Open and a difficult weekend at The Open Championship, where he had entered the third round with a genuine chance. He still sits 19th in the FedEx Cup standings and has more PGA Tour top-10s this season than Rory McIlroy.
For more celebrity sports updates, visit our Celebrity Breaking News hub. Fitzpatrick remains one to watch as the playoffs approach, playing with the freedom of a breakthrough year already secured.