Matt Fitzpatrick’s PGA Tour season came to an end after failing to make the top 30 in FedEx Cup standings to advance to the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Course. During his final round at the BMW Championship, Fitzpatrick was seen getting frustrated with a PGA Tour official over his driver. He wanted to switch out his driver after discovering a crack in it, but officials deemed it was not enough for him to make the change. Despite his objections, Fitzpatrick was forced to tee off with the defective driver, which affected his ball flight and ultimately led to a subpar finish at the tournament.
The incident on the eighth hole saw Fitzpatrick expressing his frustration to the official, questioning why he couldn’t switch to a new driver. The PGA Tour justified their decision by stating that the crack was not significant enough to warrant a change. This led Fitzpatrick to continue using the compromised driver, leading to a challenging round. His finish at the BMW Championship ultimately left him out of the Tour Championship, which boasts a significant $25 million purse for the top 30 players. Despite collecting three Top 10 finishes this season, Fitzpatrick’s lack of a tournament win left him in 40th place in FedEx Cup standings.
The ruling on Fitzpatrick’s driver sparked controversy, with fellow golfer Kevin Kisner calling it “terrible.” It was believed that Fitzpatrick teed off with the club on eight deliberately to demonstrate how it was affecting his ball flight. The PGA Tour Chief Referee defended the decision, stating that the crack in the club did not meet the threshold for a replacement. Fitzpatrick was left with no choice but to continue using the compromised driver, leading to his frustration and ultimately impacting his performance in the tournament.
Despite his disappointment at being excluded from the Tour Championship, Fitzpatrick’s season had its share of highlights, with three Top 10 finishes showcasing his talent on the PGA Tour. The British pro ended the season with no wins, but his consistent play and competitive spirit were evident in his performance throughout the year. While missing out on the opportunity to compete at East Lake Golf Course was disappointing, Fitzpatrick’s season served as a learning experience and motivation for future success on the PGA Tour.
Fitzpatrick’s outburst at the PGA Tour official highlighted the intense pressure and high stakes present on the Tour. The competitive nature of professional golf often leads to emotional reactions from players when faced with challenging situations or controversial rulings. Despite the frustration of missing out on the Tour Championship, Fitzpatrick’s season serves as a reminder of the ups and downs of professional golf and the resilience required to succeed at the highest level. As he reflects on his season and looks ahead to the future, Fitzpatrick will no doubt use this experience as motivation to continue improving and striving for success on the PGA Tour.
