THE 151ST OPEN

July 21, 2023

Alex Fitzpatrick

Mixed Zone

Q. You must be pleased the way you fought today.

ALEX FITZPATRICK: Yeah. It was a long grind out there. I definitely didn't have my best game by any means, but it was just trying to hit fairways and hit greens.

I didn't really do either of them, but I chipped extremely well and got myself out of a lot of tricky situations.

A couple bogeys towards the end but finished with a birdie, which was super nice. Yeah, I'm happy I'm in the clubhouse now and not out playing still.

Q. The resilience you showed coming into the second round after the huge disappointment of the first round.

ALEX FITZPATRICK: Yeah, you know, 17 is a tough hole, I'm not going to lie. I think I got a little spooked from yesterday after hitting it long. You stood over the tee shot thinking, right, don't hit it here, don't hit it there.

Yeah, it came up a little short and I made bogey, which was actually a good thing rather than anything else.

Just happy with the way I stuck in and stuck to the game plan. And again, nice to finish with a birdie and come in with at least a little bit of momentum.

Q. What have you learned from this Open experience so far?

ALEX FITZPATRICK: I've had a lot of advice from a lot of great people. I think the one thing, if I hopefully play another, is I think you can make the week a really long week. I think you can come in on the Friday before or the Saturday and you play a bunch.

I didn't do that so much, but I was here on Sunday, and I played on Sunday and played Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and I think it's a long -- it's not like you're playing easy golf out there. It's always a grind. You're always having to hit good golf shots.

I think just taking away the fact that it is a major, obviously, which is a fantastic experience, but it is just a golf tournament at the end of the day.

I think just trying to make it as easy as I can do for myself. But yeah, just happy to be in it.

Q. I know you're not here just for the badge and the cap and all that sort of stuff, but were you able to enjoy that moment as you walked up 18 to see those big yellow scoreboards and take in a bit of the atmosphere?

ALEX FITZPATRICK: Yes and no. I was still very stressed. I didn't know -- I was 3-over playing the last, so I didn't know what the cut was going to be, if it was going to be 3, if it was going to be 2. It could go to 4 for all I know.

At that point all I was thinking about was trying to get up-and-down and give myself a putt for birdie, and luckily I did.

As soon as the ball went in, just a massive weight off my shoulders.

Q. Mom and dad following you today?

ALEX FITZPATRICK: Yeah, I had a lot of support out there, which was amazing. I couldn't thank them enough. People from school, people from other countries, family, friends, girlfriend.

Yeah, very thankful that I have the people around me that I do, and I wouldn't be here without them.

Q. You've put yourself in position for the cut line really.

ALEX FITZPATRICK: Yeah, hopefully. I think with how hard it's playing that I would slowly go up the leaderboard. But yeah, it was just such a tough grind when you don't have your game, and I'm just thankful I spent a lot of time messing around with my wedges as a kid.

Q. You and Matt messing around as well...

ALEX FITZPATRICK: Having my brother here is extra special. Obviously as a golfer and as a brother mainly. It's both amazing, very appreciative to have him, and I look up to him a lot, and he knows that.

Yeah, it's nice that we're here and only getting closer.