ADVERTISEMENT
Two weeks after watching his older brother rise to the top of the sport, Alex Fitzpatrick will begin his professional golf journey across the Atlantic. The 23-year-old Wake Forest graduate makes his professional debut at this week’s Irish Open on the DP World Tour, the same tournament in which Matt, the new major golf champion, finished T-29 in his first event. pro as a slim 19.-year-old in 2014.
ADVERTISEMENT
Like his brother, Alex enjoyed a stellar amateur career that saw him reach No. 4 in the world rankings and represent Great Britain and Ireland in the last two Walker Cups. Like his brother, he has signed with Excel Sports Management, who will co-manage his career with Ted Brady. The similarities, however, end there. Alex is his own man and his own pro golfer, and he’s determined to chart his own path, though he admits he’d be fine if that journey took him to the same heights as Fitzpatrick’s eldest son.
Daniel Rapaport: You are in Ireland to make your professional debut. I know Ted is right there with you, and you’ve played in a PGA Tour and DP World Tour event before, but does this week feel any different?
Alex Fitzpatrick: I would say yes. When you play in those events as an amateur, you’re not really playing for much. It’s a good experience, but not much is at stake. Whereas now it’s his job, and he’s looking to make some money and post some nice finishes to build something. Must be a fun week.
DR: No more Wake Forest gear…what will you be wearing on Thursday? What is a professional Alex Fitzpatrick like?
FA: Well, he’ll wear Nike from head to toe, he’ll have a Titleist golf bag, Titleist balls and Titleist clubs.
DR: You had high hopes for your senior year at Wake. It had its moments, sure, but I have to think that it didn’t live up to expectations.
FA: I had a very good fall semester. I think I won once and had some good results, but I got to a stage where if I wanted to be good at a professional level, I had to improve my driving. For me, that is most of what is going to separate me from being an average professional and a good professional. So it was tough, he wasn’t playing very well at first, and then he was going through all these swing changes, a lot of thinking, and it made it really tough. But luckily now I have a good plan and I am seeing a new manager, Mark Blackburn, and that has been great. It has been a great help.
DR: You have PGA Tour Canada status from your sixth place finish on the PGA Tour U rankings. What’s your plan for tournaments after this one?
FA: I’ll play here, then I’ll be off for a few weeks and then I’ll play some PGA Tour Canada events in the summer and hopefully some European or PGA Tour events towards the end of the year and into the fall. Then it’s Korn Ferry Q-School at the end of the year. I’m going to live somewhere just off campus in Wake Forest with some friends for the year. I’m not sure how long I’ll be there, but it will be nice to have a base and a familiar place to live and practice.
DR: Correct. You’re going the “conventional” route. It’s no secret that there is now an alternative: the Coody brothers have talked about being offered by LIV and Eugenio Chacarra is making the move, and I understand he’s approached him too. Why did you choose the path you chose?
FA: In fact, I read what Pierceson (Coody, a recent graduate from Texas who won the Korn Ferry Tour on Sunday) had to say and I totally agree. It’s very difficult when they throw a lot of money at you like that. It’s hard to turn down. But we talk as a family and we think, what is the reason you play golf? Is money the top priority in your life? And I hope I play golf well enough that I don’t have to worry about it. For me, it’s about winning trophies and majors. If you want to play against the best players in the world, the PGA Tour will be where they are. I definitely think I made the right decision.
DR: You were in the place to see Matt with the US Open. motivating?
FA: Hundred percent. The most important thing was to see that all the hard work he has put in finally paid off. I felt like he was due one, and that all the hard work would eventually pay off. Putting your name on those trophies is why you play. Seeing him do that was very special and I hope I can do the same.
DR: Comparisons to Matt will only be more frequent given his success. How do you handle that?
FA: Look, it’s been very successful for a long time. This is not new. I’m so used to being Matt’s little brother. When he was younger he definitely frustrated me more than he does now. Now that I’ve matured a bit, I see it more as something positive. I am in a very privileged position where I can ask a great champion for his advice on how to play this golf course, how to manage my career and anything about life in general. That is something I appreciate. Not many have that.
DR: Neither of your parents were particularly accomplished professional or amateur golfers. How did they get two professional golfers?
FA: No idea, to be honest. My dad doesn’t have an 8 or 9 handicap. He should be lower, but he has a case of heebie-jeebies with his putter. We were always sporty kids growing up, we played all sports growing up. I just watched Matt and followed his lead, caught the bug and here we are.
DR: How are you and Matt different?
FA: So many different ways. It is more organized. I’m not organized, but I try to be. He is more reserved, I am more outgoing. Those are the main two. If you talk to both of them, you will know quickly.
DR: Are we going to see a Team Fitzpatrick at the Zurich Challenge? You may want to sign it up now. He is big now. Hot merchandise. He could get rid of you.
FA: I might leave for someone like Viktor (Hovland). If he wanted to go with Viktor or Rory McIlroy, I would have to let him go ahead, because they are two of the nicest people in the world.
DR: Your father is a golf nut. Your brother is a professional. Your girlfriend, Rachel Kuehn, is one of the best amateurs in the world. How do you get away from that?
FA: My dad is not going to like this one, but video games help a lot. I have some guys that I like to play with, and just focusing on that or on YouTube helps me escape golf. You can’t think about it all the time.
FA: Call of Duty, mainly.
FA: Exactly. If he wants a game, I’m more than happy to sign for him.