Fitzpatrick seeks Ryder Cup turnaround as Europe leans on data-driven approach

NEW YORK — Matt Fitzpatrick arrives at Bethpage with a clear objective: prove the numbers labeling him the Ryder Cup's underperformer wrong. The 31-year-old European star has contested eight matches in three editions and owns a single point, with seven losses, a record that sits dead last among players with at least five matches since 1979, according to Data Golf.

Yes, I know the stats say I’m the worst Ryder Cup player in history, but there’s more to the story, Fitzpatrick told Daily Mail Sport. There’s a lot to it, he added, describing the data as a starting point while stressing that context matters. His comments underscore a broader tension that will follow him into this week’s matches: can a player recover a legacy defined by a few numbers when the track record in practice is far longer and more complicated?

Since the dramatic decision to replace his caddie and coach in the spring, Fitzpatrick has risen quickly. An eighth-place finish at the PGA Championship in May was followed by seven top-10s in 12 starts, including a fourth at The Open. A run of form that culminated in a notable spike up the world ranking, and a mood that is markedly different from the summer wobble that preceded it.

Europe captain Luke Donald weighed Fitzpatrick’s Cup experience in making his picks for Bethpage. Fitzpatrick finally picked up his first Ryder Cup point in 2023, sealing a fourballs win over Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele with Rory McIlroy. In Rome, 2023, he took one point from three matches, and the solitary win came in a high-profile partner session with McIlroy. He recalls debuts and missteps with a candid honesty: in 2016, he was not ready, having just turned 22 and not done enough in the U.S. to show anything. He qualified on the European points list and found himself benched for several sessions, overwhelmed by the tasks of the week. "In 2016 I wasn't ready," he said, acknowledging how much time and growth the event demands.

The 2021 Ryder Cup in Whistling Straits offered a harsher lesson. Fitzpatrick and Lee Westwood failed to advance past the 17th hole in two foursomes, and he fell to Daniel Berger on the final day. He explained that the outcome was less about individual misfires and more about the nature of matchplay, where good play can still end in defeat. "You can play really, really well and still lose, and someone could play poorly and win," he said. Since then, he has moved to rebuild his game and his confidence. "Since 2021, I’d like to think I’ve proved myself as a top player — winning a major and on the PGA Tour. Obviously everyone is looking at the record, but this is my fourth Cup as well and they don’t just give them out. There’s something to be said for that," he added.

Fitzpatrick’s numbers and the line graph that tracks them have become part of the conversation around his Ryder Cup fate, but he argued that the figures do not tell the full story of his career. He said the summer’s results illustrate a shift from a protracted slump to a period of consistent, sometimes dramatic, improvement. He described a season in which he transformed his approach and his support structure, something he credits with reviving his form and his confidence. "The hardest part was knowing that you’ve had good results in the past, and then your confidence just starts to fall away with results," he said. "I was really pleased with the summer."

Donald’s call to preserve experience was evident in the team composition. The captain has emphasized that Cup experience remains a major criterion, and Fitzpatrick’s longer record, including his 2022 U.S. Open victory over Scottie Scheffler, helps balance a relatively young European squad with veterans. Fitzpatrick’s perspective on the rival United States team remains pragmatic; he acknowledged the strength of a lineup featuring Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, and Scheffler, while insisting that events are not decided on paper. "I wouldn’t say so. There’s still Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele. Scottie Scheffler is OK as well. Their team is strong, and I’m sure the stats will tell you they’re stronger on paper. But there’s the age-old adage that games aren’t won on paper," he said.

The Ryder Cup narrative around Fitzpatrick intersects with a broader arc of personal comeback and competitive resilience. He rose to the top of the game by winning major championships when the pressure was highest, and his 2022 U.S. Open title — sealed in a tense finish over Scheffler — remains a touchstone for his self-belief. The question now is whether that late-career ascent can translate into a sustained Cup run at Bethpage, a course and environment that have proven unforgiving to even the strongest players in past editions.

Fitzpatrick’s emphasis on timing and fit is clear. He has learned to balance his analytical tendencies with a willingness to trust his instincts in team settings. He described the path back to form as deliberate and incremental, built on clearer communication with his team, a refreshed approach, and the confidence that his best weeks are not behind him. "I was the hardest time of my career," he said. "Without sounding arrogant as such, I wouldn’t say I was worried about not being picked, but at the same time, I knew I had to play much better. Fortunately I did."

If the taping together of his data-driven mindset, his renewed confidence, and his growing experience in big team matches holds, Fitzpatrick may yet become a central figure for Europe in New York. Donald will rely on a mix of proven performers and rising stars, and Fitzpatrick’s inclusion signals a belief that the best Ryder Cup performances may still lie ahead, even if the past is well documented in the record books. Whether the numbers will finally align with the eye test remains to be seen, but the European captain and his team are betting that this is the week when Fitzpatrick’s story pivots from cautionary tale to comeback saga.