MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 8, 2022

Matthew Fitzpatrick

Quick Quotes

Q. Just describe to the average golf fan how difficult 11 and 12 are playing today with the wind this direction?

MATTHEW FITZPATRICK: Yeah, it's very tough. The wind is just all over the place. It's gusting, and then there's no wind, and, yeah, it's just crazy. It's a difficult one to describe. You have to experience it. It's a tough one because you can hit a great shot and then all of a sudden you get a gust, and you look like a complete amateur. Yeah, you can be incredibly unlucky.

Q. When the hole location where it was today on 11, are you really aiming at the green at all, or is this --

MATTHEW FITZPATRICK: Realistically I think we got it wrong today. We should have been trying to hit it 10, 15 yards past on the green, take the water out of play, but I think we probably are in between clubs. By the time I hit it, it ended up hitting short of the water, which it was insane the gust that I got and the gust that Rory got as well.

I think if there was no gust and it played out how we envisioned it, the shot that I hit would have been fine. 20, 30 feet. I think we could have hit another club to make sure we got it even further past. Just like you said, the gust is just crazy.

Q. Do you have a specific strategy on 12 to make sure that you're committed and ready to hit the shot?

MATTHEW FITZPATRICK: No, there's no strategy. You just have got to grow a pair, as my caddie likes to say. I have read a few things that Tiger always aims at the tongue of the bunker no matter where the pin is. It's something I've learned as well from Billy, my caddie, and you sort of aim to hit there and try and keep the flight down and hope for the best really.

Q. How do you feel about where you sit, and did you watch some of the --

MATTHEW FITZPATRICK: Yeah, level is fine. Disappointed. I've played horrific, to be honest, for the first two days. It's just not taking any chances that I've given myself, and I putt like the guys who are leading the putting stats, and I'll be honest, I would have said that I'm right up there challenging the lead. My long game I'm very, very happy with, but just just incredibly disappointed really.

Q. Could I indulge one question --

MATTHEW FITZPATRICK: Yes.

Q. Can you share with me any memories of that win, what it meant to you?

MATTHEW FITZPATRICK: I'm excited to go back, and I'm staying with the same family I stayed with for the U.S. Amateur, the Fultons, so I'm looking forward to that.

Q. You've stayed in touch?

MATTHEW FITZPATRICK: Yeah, we've stayed in touch a lot and seen them a lot and stuff since. I'm just excited for the week. It's going to be a great week, and like you say, I've got great memories and have my family there, so, yeah, should be good.

Q. You have a favorite moment from there? Obviously winning one. Is there a shot?

MATTHEW FITZPATRICK: Nothing. I always remember a chip-in from the back of 8. I don't know if we'll be playing that hole now on the U.S. Open route. That one was a stand-out for sure.

Q. What does it mean to you to have done with your career since then what you have been able to do and know that you are going back there as this established pro?

MATTHEW FITZPATRICK: Absolutely. I'm delighted with how I've done. It was always going into the unknown with what you were going to do, and it was obviously a big jump turning pro after leaving college, so to be where I am, I'm obviously delighted.

Q. The depth of that field, have you ever stopped to think about some of the guys. Schauffele and --

MATTHEW FITZPATRICK: I never thought about it massively. At the time you don't, and then a few years later I don't either. Yeah, I mean, it's pretty nice. Yeah, it's pretty nice. Absolutely.

Q. It's a good group.

MATTHEW FITZPATRICK: Exactly. Exactly.