Matthew Fitzpatrick and Edelweiss du Plessis (HGC Captain)
On Friday 5 April 2013, two young members of the Fitzpatrick Family, visiting Hermanus, participated in the fundraising Senior Centre Golf Day. The elder of the two, 18-year old Matthew, was then ranked the 13th Best Amateur Golfer in the World.
Since then, this impeccably well-mannered and friendly young man has ‘exploded’ on the amateur scene, winning the title of Top Amateur at the British Open held at Muirfield in July and securing the runner up position in the British Amateur.
On Sunday, 18 August, Matthew secured his place in the annals of golf when he became the 1st English Champion of the US Amateur since Harold Hilton in 1911. And he did it with his 14-year old brother, Alex, as his caddy.
Shortly after Matthew’s win at Muirfield, our Club Captain contacted him and asked him to share with the Hermanus Golf Club Members, who had been rooting for him as if he were their own, The Open at Muirfield, as he had experienced it.
This he did in a most obliging and gracious fashion. We thank him for finding the time to write this letter.
‘The Open at Muirfield’ – Matthew Fitzpatrick
Hi Edelweiss
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you but I was away in a tournament last week.
I was a little surprised to qualify for the Open as I had only completed my exams two weeks earlier.
I qualified at Gullane shooting 69 & 72 but dropped shots at the last 2 holes in the afternoon and I thought my chance had gone. Fortunately for me the dreadful Scottish weather in the afternoon meant that other players also dropped shots and I finished second. Only 3 players qualified from the 72 players in the field.
It was then a hectic 2 weeks arranging accommodation for the family.
We travelled to the Open on the Saturday morning and I had a practice round on my own. Whilst all the stands were up there was no one watching as official practice didn’t start until the Sunday.
On Sunday I had to register in the morning at the clubhouse and receive course planners and tickets for the family and this was the first experience when I was in a queue with Jason Day and as I left Darren Clarke entered the room.
I went on the range with Alex, my brother, acting as caddie for a couple of days until my tournament caddie turned up on the Monday.
We got a space at the right hand edge of the range and I walked to the other end of the range to collect some Titleist balls. I hadn’t seen Tiger Woods enter the range behind me and after I picked the balls up someone walked up to me and said are those balls for Tiger as he thought I was a ball boy!
On the Sunday afternoon I played golf with a Scottish amateur who has also qualified. It was cool and windy and the course was really difficult and I must admit I felt that I may struggle with the course as some of the holes were playing very long.
On each afternoon you are allowed to place your name on the starting sheet for the following days practice round and I decided to play with Rickie Fowler and Hunter Mahan. I was pretty nervous on the first tee and didn’t hit a great shot but both players and their caddies were great with me and soon put me at ease.
For the second practice day I played with Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood and for the final practice day I played with Tom Watson and D A Points.
Every player was a real joy to play with and could not have been nicer to me.
My family was invited to dinner by IMG the management company on the Tuesday evening and in the Marquee was Luke Donald, Jason Duffner, Pardraig Harrington, Thomas Bjorn and others. I spoke to Luke Donald about college as I am going to Northwestern University next month which is where Luke went to.
On Thursday I had an afternoon tee time and so didn’t get up too early, watched a bit of the golf on the TV and then arrived at the course about 11.00 a.m.
I had some last minute practice with my coaches Mike Walker and Pete Cowen, did a little chipping and putting and then walked to the first tee. I was drawn with Russell Henley and Jordan Spieth (both US Tour players). Jordan had won the tournament on the PGA Tour the previous Sunday which had qualified him for the Open. He is only aged 19 and a really good player. Russell was only 24 and so we were the youngest group in the Open by some distance.
I was really surprised with the size of the crowd on the first tee and the reception I got which was terrific. After a deep breath I managed to hit a good tee shot down the middle. I then birdied the second to go one under and missed a three foot putt on the 3rd which would have put me 2 under. I did however birdie the 5th to go 2 under and was still 2 under at the turn.
I then dropped a few shots on the back 9 but birdied 17 to get back to level. Unfortunately on 18 I found the fairway bunker which meant I had to come out sidewards and the took too much club and this meant I finished with a double.
I was however very happy with a 73 despite the finish. After various press interviews I left the course for an early start the next day.
After a nervous start on day 2 I birdied the 9th to get back to 2 over for the day and after a further 7 pars I was 4 over overall with 2 holes to play. My father had estimated the cut would be six over and I felt I has a couple in hand. After a good drive at 17 I hit a poor second shot on the par 5 and then was 2 aggressive out of the rough with my third shot and pulled it into deep rough. My playing partner Russell Henley sprinted 30 yards as he had seen it go in the rough. Fortunately after about 3 mins a member of the press found the ball but it was unplayable and it resulted in a 7 which meant I probably needed to par the last to make the cut.
As on Day one I found a fairway bunker but a great 3rd shot left me with an 8 foot putt to probably make the cut. Agonisingly I left it on the lip and I was really disappointed being so close.
However as on day one the afternoon starters had more difficult conditions as the greens dried out and within a couple of hours there appeared a chance that the cut would go to 7 over. Unbelievably the cut eventually reached 8 under and I qualified with a shot to spare. Not only that but only 2 amateurs were left for the Silver Medal for the leading amateur and we were both on +7.
I had experienced a real low followed by an incredible high.
The next day I was drawn with DA Points another world top 50 player.
Things went well and after being on the TV on Friday it was noticeable that the crowd following me was bigger than on the first 2 days. After 16 holes I was level par but once again I struggled on 17 and 18 dropping a further 2 shots.
In total I was 9 over and had dropped 6 shots on the last 2 holes.
Jimmy Mullen my only competitor for the silver medal shot 75 which gave me a 2 shot lead going into round 4.
Once again I was lucky with the drawn and partnered Fred Couples who was really encouraging for the whole round. I played my best golf of the week and after 13 holes I was level par for the day and whilst I had no idea what Mullen was doing I felt that I would probably have increased my lead on the overnight position.
Unfortunately I proceeded to double bogey 14 after being just off the edge of the green for 2 and then made a great up and down for par on 15 out of a bunker.
I then hit one of my best shots of the week on the par 3 16th and holed a 12 foot putt for birdie. My dad then signalled to me that I had a four shot lead with 2 to play. Finally I managed to par the last 2 for the first time in the week. The walk up 18 was great albeit the stands were not as full I would have liked but it was a great feeling knowing I had won the Silver Medal.
Fred Couples gave me a fist pump as we left the green and after double checking my scorecard I had to undertake various press interviews.
We had some lunch and then I went out and watched the players out on the course and then came back for the prize presentation.
To have my name called out as the Silver Medal winner was something I will never forget and to be stood close to Phil Mickelson when he picked up the claret jug was really special.
My overriding memory of the week was how great all the players were with me and in particular Russell Henley who I continue to keep in touch with. There was much more media attention than I envisaged plus I was asked to sign hundreds of autographs which was really great.
In 4 weeks I am off to Chicago for a new chapter in my life at Northwestern University although this could be delayed by a week if I was fortunate enough to get selected for the Walker Cup. Last week I finished runner up in the English Amateur so for now I am in good form.
Hope everyone at Hermanus is good. You have a really great golf course there and we all enjoyed playing in your charity event it was one of the highlights of our trip to your lovely country. Hopefully one day I will be back to play Hermanus again and I know my mum and dad are considering coming back again next year they enjoyed it so much.
Hope this helps with your newspaper and once again sorry for the delay in responding hope you understand.
Photo below of me and some other guy!!!
Regards
Matthew
