Subpar - Matt Fitzpatrick breaks down the week that was at the U.S. Open and his three PGA Tour victories this season

Episode Date: June 23, 2026

On this week's episode of Subpar, Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz are joined by 5-time PGA Tour winner Matt Fitzpatrick. The 2022 U.S. Open Champion talks the crowd's treatment of Wyndham Clark at Shinnecock Hills, his nerves heading into Sunday at the Zurich Classic and his reaction to slow play during his victory at the Valspar Championship. --Protiviti brings to organizations around the world, helping them use data, technology, and AI to transform their business, protect their enterprise value, or respond to the opportunities of a dynamic world. Learn more at protiviti.com/golf--Trade real-world events on Kalshi — a federally regulated prediction market — and get $20 when you trade $20 at https://kalshi.com/r/subpar or by using code SUBPAR. --Find your zone. Bold nicotine pouch flavors in 6mg and 9mg — delivered to your door. Get 20% off at nicokick.com/zone with code SUBPAR20.

Welcome back to another episode of Subpar with Colt Nost and Drew Stoltson. Please, our good friends over at Zone Nicotine, want to give a big shout out to them and let you know that no one was more zoned in than the 126th United States Open champion, our man Wyndham Clark, who just picked up another one. It wasn't easy, but the man got it done. You know what kind of a major champion he is now?

Two time. Multi. Multi. I like that. Dude, Six-Shout League going to the last day. I was sitting there Saturday night with a good friend of ours talking about it, and he asked this question. He's like, so, what do you think Wyndham thinks on a night like tonight?

Is it, hey, I could go out and win by like the most, the biggest margin of victory since Tiger at Pebble? Or is it I could join Greg Norman as like the one guy to lose a six-shot lead in the final round of a major championship. Through five holes, it looked like it was going to be the second. I mean, it went from six to one quickly. Sam Burns was flying around, the 50-footer he made on eight. Crowd fully against Wyndham the entire time, which was weird to see, which we'll get into. but, man, you got to get him credit right of the ship. I think the up and down on 9, 10, 11, 12 was kind of where I thought,

all right, he's kind of gained momentum back, calm down, three-shot lead, just get it to the house, and then a lot took place since then. It was a wild ride of a Sunday, man, but what a huge win for him. Yeah, I mean, you got to give him credit. He knew, I'm sure, going into that day, six-shot lead, everything could only go against him. Like, it's like, you just can't blow this lead, six shots.

It's never been done before. other than you mentioned as Greg Norman at the Masters. But it was a tough situation, man. The crowd was against him. The golf course was playing difficult. But he showed some mental toughness that I think is going to take him to a whole other level. I mean, to go in there and have, like I said, everything going against him, the crowd, the golf course hard, everything on the line trying to win another major championship.

And to go out there and be able to battle. I know he shot 73, but that's all he needed to get it done. And now he is a multi-time major champion and no one was more zoned in this past week than Wyndham Clark. No question. It was, I mean, what a win it was for him, all the reasons you mentioned. But playing with world number one to trying to complete the career Grand Slam. I knew like going into the day, I was like, dude, they're going to, like, fans will be pro Scotty, of course. Like, he's the number one player in the world.

He's going for, you know, the Grand Slam, all the things. I did not think it would be like, so I thought it would be more pro Scotty and less anti-Windom. And, man, it was, I'd never see anything like that. At a U.S. Open, the only people I could comp it to was made, like Sergio took a ton of shit back in the day with the waggles and the stuff. stuff at Bethpage, Monty kind of always felt it over here. But for an American player, really any player out of U.S. Open, quite like that, I'd never, like the cheering bad shots, booing good shots, 12 foot par saves, monster puts, like virtually zero reaction.

I was, I was shocked by it, man. It's like, when does the statute of limitations on all this stuff? Yeah, like, look, I'll be honest. I mean, the only other thing I would say is like Brian Harmon over at the Open championship, where he got a lot of flack over there, but he went on to win. but, you know, Wyndham's had a couple episodes. You know, the PJ Championship, the locker room at Oakmont. He said a few things in the media that a lot of people didn't really like,

and a lot of people say, you know, he can come across as unlikable. But let's put this stuff to bed, man. I mean, it was a year ago with the locker room at Oakmont. He's apologized. He's trying to move on from this. You know, he's a good dude. I think he gets a bad rap. But I was with you.

Like, I've never seen a golf tournament that's not a team event. where someone is really rooting against someone the way they were. I mean, this is an American at the United States Open who has represented your country at the President's Cup, the Rider Cup, and the Olympics. And a past champion of this event. Yeah, so it was a little shocking. Like, I'm all for cheering for someone. You might like someone more than another person.

But when you're applauding when a ball is rolling off the green and booing when they hit a good shot, I'm like, this isn't golf, man. Yeah, and I'm not going to sit up here and run a PR campaign for winning. him and say he's got to be your favorite player out there. You've got to love him. If you don't like him, that's fine. I get it. If you're going to judge a guy based on, like, the two worst moments he's had in his career, it's going to be tough to find anybody to root for out there. But he's said a few things. But like, he's apologized. He showed remorse. He's, you know, paid for Oakmont. I mean, Bob Ford came on. Brando Schaimbley was talking about it. They asked Bob Ford,

the most important guy in the history of Oakmont, longtime pro there. And he's like, dude, he's done everything, like, above and beyond he can do. Like, this is so far in the past. I can't believe this is still a thing. It just feels like for whatever reason, Wyndham's the guy, like, it just continues to linger. And, like, people have done worse things. People will continue to do worse things. But for some reason, like, a lot of things just get dismissed. And for Wyndham, it's lagged. But he's a close friend of mine.

So this stuff seems we'll come across his bias. But, like, dude, he's a good dude. You hang out with him. You have a beer. You play golf. You're going to come away and love him. Like, you know what you don't see? Many of the players or any players saying bad stuff about Wyndham.

It's all, like, social media and stuff like that. And people just can't put it to bed. So hopefully this does. I thought he was as good as I've ever seen him with the media this week. I mean, dude, he didn't react to one fan. He didn't kick anybody out. He didn't do anything. There wasn't any woes me type stuff in his post game.

The live from, I thought he was phenomenal. He's like, look, I brought some of this on myself. I'm not excusing any of the stuff I've done, but it's like at what point does the punishment not fit the crime? And I think this week, I think he won a lot of people back. I would hope he did because there's what else you want from the guy. Like, it's time to move on. They act like he murdered a guy in broad daylight or something.

You know how big of an asshole you got to be to get kicked? out of a golf tournament? Yeah. I mean, the fact that you, like, go there and you're like, I'm going to talk shit to this guy and I might get kicked out. Like, what are we doing? Like, I bring it up all the time when we, on our series XM show, like, these people, because every week at like NFL games, you see fights in the stands.

I'm like, what are we doing here, guys? This is a sporting event. This is supposed to be fun. This is a golf tournament. This is a major championship. Go out there and enjoy yourself. I mean, you can root for your guy, but don't be a dick to somebody else who's trying to play out here and trying to win a major title.

I mean, this is their job. And the fact that you go as far as to be kicked out, you should be embarrassed and never let back at a golf tournament ever again. Yeah, I didn't think Shinnecock would be the place. Like, Ryder Cup is one thing, right? Kind of keep that in its own bucket. It's different. It's a team event.

We draw a line in the sand, us versus them, more like a regular sporting event. Got it, and we kind of just keep it contained to that. Beth Page, U.S. opens. We've kind of seen it there, but Beth Page, you know, that's America's Country Club. It's where everybody can go, public course, get a lot of New Yorkers out there.

Chinacock, dude, is like the most blue-bud place in the world. It's a really hard ticket to get. There's hardly anybody out there compared to a lot of the other golf tournaments because it's such a tough place to get in and out of. I did not think it would be Shinnecock. And I honestly just, I thought we were kind of like done with this. I thought it was over. And then it just reared its head this week.

It's like if you want to make, I'm like, you don't have to love Wyndham Clark, but to make him public enemy number one of like all the golf world. Like I think it's so misdirected. Like he's not that guy at all. So hopefully it's a wrap. and all that. But somebody asked him about being the heel of the PGA tour, and he's like, well, I guess, you know, any press is good press.

So maybe you run with it. I don't know. Maybe he's going to be the guy out there that's going to be the spoiler at all these tournaments when he's up there in contention. And just maybe, I mean, there's obviously going to be people that root for him, but I don't mind golf having a villain. I didn't think it would be winning. I didn't think it would be him.

I think there's a bunch of other guys that would deserve it. But like, for the first time, you know, I don't like hang out on social media all that much or stuff. But finally, like, scrolling through after the win yesterday. I felt, I saw more people like, dude, what's, like, this is way over the top on Windham. Like, are we still holding this against? I'm sure he said a couple of things. He tried to make a joke at the Masters about, you know, this is a good form of birth control.

Like, if this is the thing that make you hate a guy to the point of, like, booing him and cheering his bad shots, then, like, you need to unclutch your pearls a little bit. Like, it's, we've seen people react after missed cuts and do bad things, not excusing any of it. But he's not the first one to do it, but it seems like he's paying the harshest penalty for him. Yeah, but hey, at the end of the day. Shout out to him. Open some great. Yeah, he's got another U.S. Open trophy. He's going to be going on his mantle.

So it's really cool, man. Not many two-time major winners in this game. And he deserves it, man. He played some great golf, showed a lot of toughness. The putter was absolutely ridiculously hot all week long. But I would say that all in all is a successful week at Shinnock. I mean, the U.S.J. I know was nervous going in, and when they could not mess this one up as far as the setup goes.

I will say there's some meteorologists out there that owe us some money, in my opinion. because all they did was tell us how it was going to be much easier Thursday morning than it was Thursday afternoon, and that was the exact opposite. We dictated a lot of our picks based on that information. Thursday afternoon was when it was probably the most scoreable because they put the pins in easy spots. They didn't cut the greens. They thought it was going to blow up to 40. Didn't happen.

Those guys in the afternoon ended up getting the good wave, I would argue. But yeah, we thought we'd see carnage, but we didn't. But at the end of the week, even with that, three guys under par. I thought they did a phenomenal. The only thing you can do is blow it. And they didn't become the topic of conversation one time. It wasn't one pin, one anything. The firmness of the greens, I thought they were great.

So the balls spin back at times. We saw bad shots get bounced off. I thought they did a phenomenal job with it. I would still like to see the fairways a little more narrow. I think 48 yards on average is a little much. You'll get it next year. Yeah, Pebble Beach is obviously going to be a lot different setup. But it's just Shinnecox's a place.

I mean, it's obviously extremely difficult. but you give them that wide of fairways. They did slow the greens down quite a bit the first couple of days just to be careful. I just think 48-yard wide fairways is not what we're looking for in a U.S. Open. But hey, they played it a little safe, and they still got a hell of a test and a very deserving champion. And some other guys had great weeks as well. I mean, Sam Burns, you got to just, man, he played so well on that Sunday. Had so many chances.

Had the bad three put there on the back nine and then hit a really bad put on 17 after making a clutch one on 16. and then, God, he had a good put on 18, man, that could have easily gone in and just burn the edge. And that was a tough one for him. He got emotional talking about his dad afterwards because his dad was there to give him a hug after he posted that 67 and just had to sit and wait.

But him, I mean, Tom Kim. Tom Kim hasn't played well in quite some time, it seems like he was outside the top 140 in the world before this week. He got in there at third. Scotty Sheffler, world number one, just hadn't put it all together. There was like the microcosm of the season, wasn't it? Yeah, he's like, yeah, I played pretty shitty for him.

and he finishes fourth. I'm in the final group on Sunday of a major. I feel like he hadn't done much. He putted it. It felt like he made nothing. Oh, he made the one on 10 on Sunday. I was like,

okay, he's capable of doing something weird. Oh, yeah, of course. All he needs to do is see one go in. It just felt like like, putts, it didn't even feel horrible.

It's just like a little off on the speed, a little off on the line, like going right around the, right around the lips. It just didn't get much out of it. I mean, legitimately, it was kind of just perfect summary. Of his 2026, I thought.

I want to give us some love to Keith. Mitchell, a little 41, 29 to start the tournament, shot four rounds of 70, the only person in U.S. Open history to do that. And then I think the other big story coming out of there, Joaquin Neiman, getting the two-shot penalty for code of conduct violation. Still don't really know what happened. There's no video of it. Gabby Herzeg actually reported on a little bit what she heard from the volunteers that were

out there. Obviously, it wasn't good, but it led to a two-shot penalty. It led to an 11 on the sixth hole there on that Thursday. Shoot 78. Comes all the way back. End up finishing tied for seventh, but misses a master's invite by one shot. It loses the tournament by seven shots, I believe, also.

It's hard to believe with all the phones that are out there that somebody didn't pick this up. Haven't seen the club throw. God, I think it's more than a club throw. We see club throws all the time. You go back to Oakmont. They were flying all over the place. I think it's got to be the way he, like, treated a rules of...

He asked for relief from dangerous animal. I've done that. I've done that. You know those fire ants up in the Hamptons that run amok up there. He wanted relief from that was denied. Chunked his shot. He'd already had a couple out of bounds. Like, he just lost his shit. But yeah, I think it was the, from what I've read,

it was the denial of relief from those dangerous Long Island fire ants. It's funny you brought this up. So actually, we were playing a few weeks ago with Wagyu, Johnson Wagner. And he hit one over and he was pretty much dead against a tree. And he's like, hey, fire ants. I'm like, how do you know? know their fire ants because I had this situation. My first win on the corn fairy tour, Fort Smith, Arkansas, Saturday on 18.

I had left for the grade. And I was in the middle of a fire, fire, an ant hill. I don't know what they were. Call for an official. He says, no. What do you mean? They're ants, fire ants. He's like, no, they have to be fire ants.

Those aren't fire ants. I'm like, oh, you're an ant expert too? How do you know? And he's like, you can just tell. And I'm like, you stick your finger in there and tell me. Don't like they bite you. Yeah, I didn't win. I didn't win that.

When was the last time someone actually got relief from, because any time it's bright, Bryce did it in Memphis, that he was looking for it. Like, anytime it's completely fucked and there's, you see an ant, you're like,

ah, I'm scared for my life. Has anyone ever gotten an actual, like someone comes up? You need the crocodile hunter there to be like, yeah, mate, this fall on us. God,

I don't know. Who knows what they are? They're just ants. I was just trying to get that official to stick his finger in there. And they'll be like, hey, let's see if they bite you and we'll figure out.

There's got to be one fire ant in there. Yeah, get in there. If you dig one out. at one and he got two shots. Crazy. I mean, played damn good. You would have been tough to beat in a match play format this past week.

But to lose by seven, that whole happens, but to miss the master, as a guy that fighting for these spots in major championships, a guy we expect to play well. Every time one rolls around, he does play it, we point to his major record, which is disappointing for a guy that's as good as he is. To miss that by one, that's tough. Yeah. It was Wyndham Clark's week, and he's a two-time major champion. Awesome to see.

We'll be having him on the show here soon. To recap that week at Shinnock. There was some other golf being played, and I know you'll like this, because your Broncos are off to a hot start in 2026. Coach Sean Payton, the winner of the revelry with his partner, John On up at Gaza Ranch, which I was a part of this past weekend. Your headball coach made a 15-foot slider for bird, I believe, on the third hole of the shootout to bring home the trophy.

He loves the lights. Loves the lights. Love to see him get that dub early. winning is a habit. He's establishing it early in the season. Also, nice, take a little load off, Sean. You know what I mean? Before the season, long season of winning coming up in Denver.

Did you get my offensive play call? Did you relay the message? I delivered your message about Riley Moss getting the ball on the offense. Correct. He likes the name of the package you came up with and everything. So if y'all are running away from the team, don't be surprised if you hear Ivory 21. Yeah, that ivory package. 21 Ivory.

Run it now. How excited were you get? He might be like the one coach in football where he might have. But you know what? I like that. I'm going to draw that up tonight at 1 a. Oh, he was already thinking of stuff. It was greatness.

It actually could happen, which if it does, that will be the greatest thing in the history of my life. Coach Payton is an absolute beauty. I got to give some love to Gauzer and my man Brendan Morrow, even though we couldn't even compete for the title sleaze because Brendan Morrow got inducted into another Hall of Fame up in Canada. So we played the first day. The next morning, he jumps on a bird, goes up to his Hall of Fame celebration. and then comes back.

So I played with my buddy Michael Whalen instead, but they wouldn't let us count because they have two different handicaps. You have multiple partners. Yeah, it's tough. That's why I was never really very good at anything. These pesky Hall of Fame inductions get the way of all the fun shit.

We had a blast. That place is special. Man, it's all time. Weather a little nicer up there than it is in Scottsdale right now. Slightly. Oh, I had a big moment up there. Caught my first fish. What?

Of my life. Like real fish. Okay. It wasn't any sort of. Who cast it for you? Sea monster or anything like that. dude, I was slanging that bitch all over the place. Might have found my new calling.

Caught one. A little, what was it? Smallmouth bass. Bam. Tricked his ass, got him up in the boat. Let him go. Of course. But I'm on the board.

Did you take it off the hook? I'm on the board. I haven't showed you the picture. Yeah, I took it off the hook. I got a picture with him too, holding him. Did you name him? It's about an eight incher. That's all you need.

That's all you. Congratulations. On your fish. Yeah. It was a big moment. It's a big moment for me. All right. We got a big moment actually coming tomorrow because

CEO of the PGA Tour Brian Rollap is meeting with the media on Monday up at the Travelers. Tiger Woods actually in attendance for the committee to vote on the schedule changes to the PGA Tour in 2028. And it sounds like some big ones are coming. And he has a press conference Tuesday morning at the Travelers to hear all about that. Yeah, I mean, we've been kind of hearing things here and there, speculating on what's going to happen. This is the one when he first spoke earlier in the year. Like, all right, dude, June, that's when we'll know. We'll have some actual answers.

here it comes we're going to have some track one some track two some events missing some events in different spots it's going to be interesting to see how it shakes out but yeah it's going to be different i think that's a little point of rollout coming in like give me a non-golf guy give me a sports guy a guy understands like product sports product and shape it that way so i mean that's kind of you know what we've all asked for so we're going to get it tomorrow i promise you not everyone's going to be happy no i mean we got i don't think it's a great look when you got your guy that's been in your mouthpiece for you for the last handful of years coming in, be like, these track twos are just glorified corn fairy tour events, you know,

these things suck. Yeah. And it's like, aren't you the guy, you know, you were the one kind of lobbying for no-cut events and all these other things too. So it'll be interesting. There'll be some happy people and some unhappy people, like pretty much every decision on the PGA tour. Well, I'm always happy with our friends over at Kalshi.

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including California and Texas. Download the Kalshi app and use code subpar to get $20 when you trade $20. That's K-A-L-S-H-I-Kal-Shi. Put your money where your prediction is. Let's get some prediction. Let's get to it. We did hit one last week. Sam Burns' top 10.

Damn near got us a win out of it. Man's playing some really good. golf. But this is a great tournament. This is also home of the Hartford Heckler, one of your favorite people. I forget about that little sweet bastard every year. Contact us somehow. If you're out there, you need to do an episode. Consume golf content, please find me. I would love to speak to you. He was probably following Windham around Shinnecock. Yeah, he may have moved north. All right. So another signature event, obviously a loaded field, Roy McRoy, actually not playing this week. And a guy that's been playing extremely well, finished fourth at the U.S. Open was

kind of threw his name there late in the tournament, thought he might make a little push, post a number, but J.T. Posting, the Wind Memorial, fourth at the U.S. Open. Why not keep rolling and finish top 20 for us at the Travelers? God, he looked good in that final round out there. He missed a couple of little, they're not bunnies out there. His greens look so bumpy. You've got the wind and the slope and all that.

But this is a couple shorties that could have been even better, but looked incredible out there ever since he made that putter change. Like you said, first and fourth, love this play. Yeah, hopefully he's got enough gas in the tank, but playing some really good golf. You can't get up for a $20 million purse? I think, yeah. I think he's just fine.

All right. Our top 10 play, guy has a great track record around here. Shot 60 as an amateur here and did not have a very good week at Shinnock, but these guys are so good. They can flip it around at any moment. Let's go Patrick Cantley, top 10. Yeah.

Horses for courses. Kid loves this joint. It's hard to believe. How many years ago was that 60? Oh, my God. I played in the tournament. Ages. I remember when that happened.

I was like, what? 2012 or something like that. 60 amateur. Yeah. Nice. Long time ago. Yeah. Top 10 for Cantlay.

Yeah. In our win this week, a man who we love on every golf course because he's just that damn good. He's there again last week like he always is at U.S. Open. Tied for 11th. I think his top 10 streak, obviously. Hurt is average, I think. It does. Yeah.

But man's a ball striker. Putter's been a little cool this year. If it warms up at all, he's going to be a factor. We're going Zander Shafley. Love it. Love it. I mean, it's hard to believe that that 11th hurts his average finish. It was shoot two over the last.

last day or something and slid down a little bit, was headed for another one. I mean, it's just like clockwork every year at the open. Absolutely. He's a machine, dude, and I think this might be the week. He gets that win. It's been a little bit for him. But our guest this week will be teeing it up as well. He's also a past U.S. Amateur Champion, past U.S. Open winner, Rider Cupper.

The man does it all. Matt Fitzpatrick joins us on subpar. All right, we have got the fourth ranked player in the world with us today. He's a five-time PGA tour winner, a major champion, four-time rider-couper, already with three wins on the PGA tour season. But, according to his brother, only the second best soccer player in the family. Matt Fitzpatrick, good to have you. How do you respond to those allegations? I just take them on the chin.

Yeah, I just accept it. It's okay. I've had it long enough off my brother, so it's okay. Well, what a year it's been for you, Matt. Obviously, like you said, three wins, winning with your brother, which I know had to be extremely special. But I want to talk about this past week, the U.S. Open out at Shinnock. You ended up finishing 22nd. I know not what you were hoping for, but what was the week like out there? Yeah, it was interesting. Obviously, I would say, very different from 2018. You know, the

courses, obviously, the Greens are, it's probably biggest defense with how severe they are. And, you know, you're looking at a lot of the pins that they used last week, and majority of them are the same pins basically all four days. I think three of the four days on whole seven are probably within two yards of each other. So, you know, that just shows how severe it is compared to normal weeks where it's normally kind of dotted around the four corners of the green, really. But yeah, it was an interesting test. And, you know, obviously, like I say, disappointing weekend for me, but this is what it is. You know, players have had some interesting words about Shinnacock in the past at the U.S. Open, and we know you obviously take notes after every single shot.

Could you maybe give us maybe a little fun one you wrote down after something maybe bad that happened at Shinnock? Well, none of them were written down. They were more said out loud. Yeah, I just think, you know, the golf course is with how severe it is. There's such a fine line between, you know, difficult and, you know, difficult and, you know, just ridiculous or unfair, I would say. I think the big one for me was seven on the first two days was just about acceptable,

playable because of, A, the severity of the green and how soft the greens were. Saturday afternoon was just a completely different story on seven, that the morning players probably could have held it on the green and the afternoon players I didn't think could necessarily hold it on the green which you know you obviously begin to question then what kind of set up that is given the huge disparity of conditions between first off and last off for that hole in particular I mean the majority I would say all the other holes

were obviously very well thought out and figured out. But I think with the severity of that green, it made it very hard to kind of keep similar sort of conditions throughout the whole day. Yeah, that's a whole day. I haven't seemed to quite crack the Coke yet, that old seven at Shinnecock. But, Matt, like, you have such a good track record

at tough golf courses, courses where scores are close to, like, as closer to par as the winning score as possible. What do you attribute that to? Is that something physical about your golf? game or is that more a mental element? Yeah, I think there's a bit of everything. I think probably growing up, to be honest,

my eye and play wasn't necessarily a strength. So I think when your eyeing play is necessarily not a strength, it's, oh, mine was kind of driving and putting. I think it makes difficult courses a little bit easier. I think it's easier when you've not got great ironplay to hit it to 30, 40 feet and two-put get out with a par as opposed to golf courses where hitting it to 30-40 feet is not really much use. And having to make those puts for birdie makes it very difficult to compete.

Whereas if you can kind of just dump it to the middle of the green and give yourself two puts, then you've got a better chance of competing on tougher golf courses in my opinion. So I think that's one thing. And I think just the test itself being, you know, having to grind it out and, you know, make those par puts and chip it close from the right rough or short-sided. It's kind of something that I guess I've always done growing up, really. One of the big stories out of this past week was obviously the treatment from the fans for Wyndham Clark. They're coming down the stretch or basically all day on Sunday.

And I know you heard plenty of it at the Ryder Cup. But what was your thoughts on what he was going through? this past Sunday, and did you hear anything out there? Yeah, I heard a lot. I actually questioned Wyndhamon Saturday when we played. It was like the 13th hole. And I did say to him, I said, you know, does this happen every week? And he's like, yeah, every single week, you know, every single week.

And listen, I'm not, I need be the first to say. I'm not condoning what he did at Oakmont. It was, you know, not really the smartest thing to do. but you know i've spent a little bit of time with windham i get on very well with windham i you know i really like him i think he's a very he's a very good guy um i think it is unfair for for people like i understand the jokes of you know about the locker and stuff but to me the thing that i don't like is when you know he hits a t-shot and just shouting get in the bunker or you know get in the water or whatever That to me is just, I mean, first, it's just dumb.

You know, it's just stupid heckling, but I think it is a little bit unfair to be that way. And, you know, particularly having an American fan-based route against America, an American player is obviously a little bit odd as well in itself. Yeah, I mean, Matt, you've been out there for so long. Take the Ryder Cup out because I think the Ryder Cup is kind of like a one-of-one. It's in its own category out there. But can you, since you've been out there, remember a time where fans were hard on a guy throughout a lot?

not just one group or one whole, but throughout the entire event, as they were with Wyndham this past week? No, no, I wouldn't say so. I wouldn't say I'd play with anyone that's had that before. And to clarify, like, you know, he did what he did, and he's going to get some heat and stuff like that. But part of me in my mind thought, like, give it two, three months,

and, you know, everyone's forget about it and move on and you never hear about it again. But obviously, you know, he said he's getting, it every week. And I did think last week was a little bit unfair. The guy's leading the tournament. He's playing great golf. You know, making the puts and doing what he needed to. Every time on that Saturday,

he was faultless. And to keep getting that, I thought, was what was a little bit unfair really. But, you know, he handled it well. And, you know, I felt like that's the best way you can handle it is go out there and, you know,

prove everyone wrong. And I feel like that's, you know, I've said in the past, obviously, about the fans and getting the abuse and the USA chance and stuff like that. It is good fun. It's great to be part of it. I think when it gets a little bit personal, I think it's maybe not ideal. But, you know, he handled it very well. Yeah, and I thought, I mean, you had some fun with it at Harburtown when you made the put to win in the playoff and just kind of tugged at your ear a little bit and said, okay, let me hear it now.

Did anything that week cross the line? Or was that more like what you're saying, just kind of the good. good fun of them rooting for their guy, Scottie Sheffler? No, I mean, I think definitely there was things that that week. You know, I definitely heard the same thing, getting the bunker, getting the water, you know, go left, whatever, whatever it is. Like, you've got a handful of individuals that have had far too much a drink. You know, they have one beer and they're absolutely off the face. So it's like they just think it's funny and people around them think it's funny and they laugh.

and it's just, you know, it's just childish, childish behavior really. I think it's obviously great to have fans, and it's great to sort of be out there and loud and whatnot, and you want an atmosphere. I think you do. I think that is what's made so many great tournaments over the years as just having that great atmosphere. But there's obviously just a line that, you know,

you need to be careful, not to cross too often, I would say. Yeah. Been a rough year for the New York sports fans. and their reputation, going back to the Ryder Cup, the Knicks. And now this, staying on the U.S. Open for just a second, Matt, do you have, all right, outside of Brookline, where you're a monster, you got two U.S.GA titles at that place. Take that off the board.

Do you have a favorite U.S. Open venue? I really like Chinnecock, to be fair. I felt that I've played two U.S. opens there. I think that's the place I've played the most, I think. I feel like that was, you know, I really liked the setup in 2018. I thought it was really difficult, but it was really fair. I think people forget that the one thing that I feel that that place offers you, for the most part, apart from maybe a couple of greens,

is that if you are out of position, you can get it into a position where you still have a chance at all up and down. And I think that is like a big thing. Yeah, the up and down is tough, but you could still be fat side of the green and have a chip and you know I felt that year it played it played well from that standpoint I figured it was the same same this year

obviously different conditions with how soft the greens were the first two days but I would honestly say like Chinnacoc I think is a great venue you have caught me on the spot in terms of I can't even think of some of the other venues

I feel like that you know Pebble plays pretty well at that time of year as well I remember that in 2009 quite well I felt that it was definitely you know a really good US Open golf course

it's not particularly one of my favorite golf courses but I think it plays well that week and I kind of think it forces the hand of the USGA a little bit to set up a certain way I think which is quite cool but yeah I feel like for me that there's you know there's obviously a lot of history with the US Open so they want to go to certain venues

and, you know, sort of play on that, which I think is really cool. I think it's also great to maybe see some other venues and see some other really cool courses. I heard that Chambers Bay might be sort of coming back in the mix from images that I saw from afar last year. Obviously, I know the conditions weren't necessarily the best, but as a golf course viewing on TV, it looked fantastic. So, you know, that would be a cool one to play as well, I imagine.

I believe they had the U.S. girls junior there a couple years ago, and they totally redid the greens and the place looked amazing. Yeah, someone I heard that, yeah. Before we get back to Matt Fitzpatrick, this episode is brought to you by Protivity, a leader in global business consulting and the official performance data partner to Matt Fitzpatrick. You've probably seen Protivity on Matt's shirt,

but what's really interesting is what happens behind the scenes. Matt is one of the most data-driven players in golf, and Protivity works closely with Matt and his coaching team to help him get more value from the thousands of shots he tracks each year. Using a custom-built analytics platform, mobile app, and AI-powered tools, including an agenic caddy and video swing analyzer, productivity turns Matt's practice and tournament data into actionable insights for smarter preparation.

It's the same expertise Protivity brings to organizations around the world, helping them use data, technology, and AI to transform their business, protect their enterprise value, or respond to the opportunities of a dynamic world. Learn more at Protivity.com. golf. That's P-R-O-T-I-T-I-com backslash golf. Portivity, better every day. Now, back to Matt. I want to go back to earlier this year, what I know is one of the most special weeks for you, but your brother playing on a sponsor exemption, y'all teaming up at the Zurich Classic.

And I've never had a chance to ask you this, but can you just explain, like, the nerves for you, Saturday night going into Sunday morning? No, and like, I mean, listen, you're good. You've won many times all around the world. but for him, like this was a literal life changer for him and how much pressure you felt. Yeah, I mean, it's funny. I'll be honest, I didn't really, I didn't really feel nervous Thursday, Friday or Saturday playing or even Saturday night. I didn't feel, I didn't really feel nervous at all.

I felt like we're, you know, both playing really well, felt like in a comfortable spot. You know, you look at winning, it's like, yeah, it'd be amazing if we won, but you kind of got that real, I feel like being English, got that sort of very realistic look on, on, you know, how hard it is to win. But it wasn't until kind of got on to the golf course that I really felt nervous. The second hole I sort of turned to my caddy down

and was just like, listen, I said, oh, wow, I can't believe how nervous I am. And he was like, what? I was like, yeah, I feel really nervous. And, you know, and once the round got going, I obviously felt better. and didn't really feel it in, you know, in the middle of the round or anything like that. But early doors when you like kind of almost the situation actually hit me, it's like, well, wow, okay.

We were three or four clear going into Sunday playing really well. And it's like kind of asked for the taking. And you're like, wow, this situation really came to life, I guess. And yeah, it was a strange feeling. It was such a cool story. And I mean, it's so much fun to watch. like I said changed his life. He's been playing some really good golf since then as well.

Have you made him pick up a few of the dinner bills lately? Not enough. Not enough. Yeah. More to come, hopefully. All right. Go to the 18th hole, the bunker shot. I thought you're going to hit it close.

I didn't think you're going to hit it to eight inches or whatever. And I especially didn't think you're going to fly at hole high. I know you said you had a perfect lie. It's good a lot. Did you consider a trunk and run on that shot, which I think 90% of guys in your position would have fry hit. No, I mean, if I'm honest, like I walk into the bunker, I was hoping for a really bad lie. That flag is really far back and it kind of, the bunker's a little bit below. Then as you come out

the bunker, it kind of slopes down to the middle of the green and then back up to that back left pin. And I was hoping for like a really bad lie, like that it just settled in a rake hole or something like that. I literally could just kind of duff and run like a 56 and just catch it heavy and let it release back there and whatnot. And I mean, I got there and this thing is literally on a teapag. Like, it could not be, if you were trying to hit crazy spinners as a 10-year-old kid in a bunker, that was the perfect lie. So when I saw that, it was obviously a bit different.

And I said, well, I'm going to need to fly it all the way. I'm going to need to hit like a good strike. I'm going to just play it as a normal bunker shot trying to, you know, just get it there. but I wanted to just give Alex a chance of making a put like that. So all I felt like I could do. And, you know, when obviously it came out, I was like, wow, I think that's, I think that could be perfect. And Alex's caddy, I could hear to the right of me shouting sit.

And I'm gone, oh, no, where is that? Obviously, get up there look and it's spinning towards the flag. I was like, wow. It's just, yeah, couldn't believe it really. I love that. Back-to-back weeks after Harbortown, that one, and then that's going to be tough to top in two weeks Yeah, it's been an awesome season, like I said. But, you know, we only really see you on the golf course.

Like, you're not a big social media guy. I know, well, you're in your wife's TikToks quite a bit, which are fantastic, by the way. But what does Matt Fitzpatrick like to do when he's away from the golf course? Well, my big thing, obviously, at the minute, is the World Cup. You know, so watching as much of that as I can and, you know, taking that in. but obviously we're expecting in August as well, so I got all that to think about and get excited about as well. So, yeah, I mean, like my biggest thing, to be honest,

call it's like, yeah, just trying not to think about golf and watching football or soccer or any other sports that are on TV, really. That's like my biggest thing. Have you adopted a football team? Well, not yet. I was trying to think about this. because when we have the baby, then I was like, well, what team does the half-American,

half-English support in all the American sports? And I was like, well, it's going to probably have to be the closest. The way it works in England, it's like my dad was a Sheffield United fan because I was born in Sheffield, so like that's how it works. But obviously, I'm not from America, but Catherine is. She's from Jersey, so what's the nearest teams near there? So, yeah, unfortunately, I heard it was the Jets. mine not be too good.

That's tough. Tough start. Maybe rethink that one. Yeah, we'll give you some time. We'll give you some time to work on that. As a huge soccer fan, the World Cup going on right now, I know your big Sheffield guy. What would mean, what would make you happier? Like England winning the World Cup or Sheffield winning Premier League?

What's a bigger deal? Sheffield, Sheffield United being in the, winning the Premier League would be way bigger. Yeah, it would be way bigger. But to see England win a World Cup in, yeah, my lifetime would be pretty wild. would be pretty well. I was told from a friend of years that you might actually rather be a Premier League manager than a professional golfer. Yeah, that would be, yeah, that sounds about right, to be fair.

Yeah. It's, yeah, I am basically, I prefer football to golf. There's no doubt about that. Yeah, there's no doubt about that. Well, it sounds like you're way better at golf than you are at football. According to your level, unfortunately for me, yeah, yeah. We only have one source on there. All right, you turn 50.

You either got champions tour sitting there for you. or Sheffield calls like, dude, we need to run the operation. But you can't play golf anymore, full-time gig. I don't want to be playing, no disrespect to senior store.

I don't want to be playing senior store. I just, I don't. I've said that to everyone, and they look at me like, oh, yeah, okay, course, yeah, yeah,

we'll see you there and when you're 50, but I'm, yeah, that's not really, that's not on my radar. All right, so it's on the table.

It's on the table. Can we talk a little rider cup for a minute? Sure. I got a few rider cup questions. most, I guess, right off the jump, Luke Donald coming back for a third term after two successful ones.

Did you talk to him before the decision was announced or before he made a decision? And were you all surprised that he'd come back for a third given that he's kind of just throwing a perfect game with the whole man away? Yeah, I mean, I wouldn't say I was surprised. I think we did have a few conversations. It wasn't like he was kind of asking me

what, do you think I should come back or anything? him, but we did have a couple conversations about his thoughts and, you know, what he might do, what he might want to do. And, yeah, I mean, obviously, his players were delighted to, you know, to have him back as a third time. And he knows what to do. He knows how to do it. And, yeah, it's only a positive for Team Europe. Yeah, it's really great for us over here.

It's been really good. Yeah, I will. I'm sure you'd be delighted. It's been really fun, Matt. I just wanted to pat him on the back, say, good luck. just beating our ass every single time. The tradition unlike any other. It's all right.

I heard you got a new stats team. Yeah, Justin Ray. That's what we need is some stats. That's all we're lacking. It might need y'all to miss a putt occasionally. Justin Ray can come in and hit 20 footers for it. It's like, y'all, it will be good. We can be dangerous.

Hey, what is a dare manner? Like, I've seen it on TV during the pro-am that JP used to host over there still does maybe, but it looks just ridiculous. Yeah, it's good. I've only played it once. I played it in his program in 20. yeah I mean lovely golf course it's it's just in pristine condition so I think it'll be probably more unfavourable of you know I think it'd be more unfavorable of the Europeans

set up wise I'd be I'd be shocked if if obviously it wasn't I think when I played it it was a little bit more open I would say off the tea than I imagined it would be for like a golf bus that was going to host the Rad Cup. But, yeah, I think the great thing about JP, obviously, such a big supporter of European golf. And I would imagine it's going to be however, you know, however Team Europe wants to set it up, it's going to be exactly like that.

The pictures look sick of the place. Being that you've done both, Matt, what's sweeter, winning on home soil? Or is there something sweeter about doing it in New York, especially the way they were on y'all's ass the whole time? Not even a question, yeah. in a way is like one of the best feelings ever. And nobody does it.

Best feelings ever. We don't do it. Yeah. That was cool. My wife said she's never seen me like that. After we finished on Saturday, I was like revving up the crowd. And she was like, I've never seen me like that. I mean, you had one of the like crazy matches on single and singles as well.

That was a wild one. Wild one. That was kind of that one, the half was like when we kind of actually started to believe a little bit. Was there a moment during that final day where you were like, holy shit, like the unthinkable might happen. Yeah, yeah, definitely. I mean, we set off and we were going pretty well. I think we were up a couple, a few matches, early doors,

and I was playing well and whatnot. And then I think all of a sudden that, you know, sort of tied against a turn and you sort of get to 16 and you're like, wow, all of a sudden my match is, you know, really important. It's let alone winning. It's just a half at this stage. And, yeah, I remember speaking to Ludwitz. and, you know, he didn't seem worried because he's as cool as a cute number of 24-7.

But, yeah, we, I would say we stumbled over the line in the end, but it was enough. Yeah, y'all got it done. It was exciting. But Sunday was exciting, at least for us, the first couple days were rather embarrassing. Before we let you get out of here, Matt, just a couple of fun ones. We do this E-9 segment. We're going to make it a little brief, though, for you. But one thing I'm curious about is the way you mark your golf ball, it looks like it takes probably an hour to do it before around.

How long does it take And how many Sharpies do you actually carry? Well, I have Sharpies with me and my carry-on, but I have six of them, six colors on the ball. But, you know, this is what happens when you play the wrong ball once, get told off by your dad, like, don't do that again. That was stupid. And, yeah, here we are.

All right. Here we are, what, 17 years later. That's fair enough. That's a good reason to do it. So that's the lot. I was going to ask, what's the lot? That's just because you play the wrong ball once and you need something that nobody else possibly does?

Literally. Got you. Literally. Okay. It's great, though, too, because from like 30 yards out, I'm like, oh, I know that's my ball because I can see all the calls on it. Yeah, it's fun to watch it spin, too. We did chipping around the green. All right.

This is a reaction question to your brother's answer when we had them on. So we typically ask if a movie's being made about your life, who would you want to play you? Your brother, humbly picked Chris Hemsworth, your reaction. that's funny yeah who do you think not gonna like is that who you I'll give it to you that

who would you pick for him who would I pick for him he actually looks a little bit I feel like he looks a bit like Chris Pratt he's like a little stocky so a little stocky Chris Pratt

I don't suck either yeah he's a shit that ain't bad either um my next I'm supposed to ask you your favorite video game. A favorite video game.

Well, I don't know if I can answer this, given that I'm sponsored by. Oh, yeah. Good point. There you go. So your second favorite video game, other than 2K. By a wide margin. Yeah, behind 2K golf game, it would be a football manager. Yeah, so what is this football manager?

It's basically you are the. manager, you were the GM of whichever team you want to be, and then you, yeah, basically make the transfers, pick the players, formation, tactics, all that's, all that good stuff. Yeah, you really are into this. So you don't actually

play, you just like scripted, you just set the board up and then let it go. Yeah, it's like a simulation game, yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, sick. Yeah, you should be a soccer manager. He doesn't even like to play it, he just wants to set it up so he has the advantage. It's all this European dominance is starting to make sense.

at the Ryder Cup. I'll give you a soccer one here. You got an eight-footer to win the Masters, or you can opt to take a penalty kick to win the World Cup. Which one do you feel more comfortable? Pulling off. I would probably say the pull. All right, I thought you would.

What, 10 feet? What distance would it have to be before you take the PK? Well, penalties are, about 78% of the time and 8 foot 50% of the time. So you're probably looking at like six feet, I guess, five, six, yeah, probably like six feet would be like even, I guess. But yeah, I mean, you're probably looking about, oh well, I'd take, I'd take the penalty kick at like 12 foot, I guess. I knew he'd know the percentage on funds. I didn't know you'd also know a PK percentage.

Messy missed one earlier today. He did. He missed one. Yeah, he did. That wasn't his finest. Yeah, he came back, though. He came back. He's got two more.

He's doing okay. He's the best. All right. Last one for me. What went by faster? Your time at Northwestern or you're around at the Valspar with Adrian Dumont-Dais-Sachars. Still going. I would definitely say Northwestern.

I can remember more about that round than I can at Northwestern. That's good. I love it. That's a good one to end on. Keep fighting a good fight for pace of play out there too, Matt. We appreciate everything you do. A few of y'all get it. A few of y'all get it.

And we thank you for the time, my man. It's a big week right after an open straight into a signature event. So we appreciate your hopping on. No, thank you. Thank you, guys. You got it, brother. All right, that was Matt Fitzpatrick joining us on subpar. Man, he's such a good dude.

Goes about things a little different. I would say a little different than you and I do. Yeah, I'm not tracked. all my shots. His works a little better than our plan does. Yep, no question. But a fascinating, man. What a career it's been.

U.S. Amateur champion, U.S. Open champion, Ryder Cup player. I mean, just totally changed his game a few years ago, going from one of the shortest guys

in professional golf to one of the longest. And he's a problem every time he teased up nowadays. Best iron player in the game this year right now. I think that's good thing. Yeah, that's helpful. And, yeah, in the mix for player of the year,

another major championship left, Fed's Cup playoffs. Kids moving. Good year. Three wins on the season. Good year to be at Fitzpatrick. Absolutely. It was, but that was a lot of fun with him. Once again, congratulations to Wyndham Clark on another major championship sleaze. But before we get out of here, big shout out to our boys over at Zone Nicotine, but warning, this product contains nicotine, and nicotine is an addictive chemical.

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Beautiful. Bam. I love it. That's going to do it for us. Hope everyone enjoyed this episode of Subpar, and we'll talk to you next week.