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BBC News
12 minutes ago
- BBC News
'I needed to get myself together' - Fitzpatrick on finding form
Golf is a demanding and successful day job, but football is former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick's sporting passion - to the extent that he wants to work in the may happen one day but for now, digging his way out of the biggest slump of an otherwise glittering golf career has been the 30-year-old's has been a difficult and emotional process, but proof that he is back came with a career-best tie for fourth at last month's Open. He was the leading UK golfer that week on the Antrim coast and it was a fine way to end the men's major more so given where Fitzpatrick's game was when it began at April's Masters. The previous month he had missed the cut at the Players, parting company with caddie Billy Foster - with whom he won the 2022 US miserable early spring confounded expectations, after taking time to reset his career following a disappointing 2024. He felt ready to contend again, but his game remained in disarray."I just didn't have it," Fitzpatrick told BBC Sport. "I'd put in a tonne of work, my coaches had put in so much work and it just didn't happen."There's no stone left unturned for me, but it's hard when you're intending to hit a shot and missing it by quite a lot. I just didn't know what was coming."And that's when confidence hits an all-time low and you feel like you can't progress." By the end of the Masters, where he finished in a share of 40th place, the former world number six was 75th in the was not sure what to do to arrest the decline. And sometimes stuff happens away from the course as vicissitudes contributed to what had been previously unthinkable - splitting with Mike Walker, his coach and confidante since Fitzpatrick's mid works alongside fellow South Yorkshireman Pete Cowen and helped his protege win the US Amateur in 2013 before turning professional."My relationship with Mike is more important than golf really," Fitzpatrick said. "He's someone I've looked up to since I was 14 or 15."I could tell him anything and my respect for him is so high. At the same time I wasn't playing well and things probably needed to change."It's my job and I needed to get myself together."The week after the Masters, Fitzpatrick started to work with the Alabama-based coach Mark Blackburn."It was the first time I've ever had anyone look at my swing, or get a lesson off someone not named Mike Walker or Pete Cowen in 15 years," Fitzpatrick wanted to know his new pupil's physical capabilities and his level of flexibility. They soon discovered Fitzpatrick possesses unusually long arms."Which is not great for hitting irons because its harder to control the depth of the club, and you are going to hit it heavier more often than not," he said."The other thing was I don't have great shoulder flexion and because of that, as soon as I swing it too long I come out of posture and my swing is all out of whack."While finishing 11 under par at Portrush it was noticeable that before every shot Fitzpatrick would pull back his shoulders and push out his chest. "It's me trying to pinch my shoulder blades together," he said."It is basically to create the radius of my arms, which means I can just rotate there and I don't need to stretch or move my arms." The work is paying off. Fitzpatrick was eighth in May's US PGA at Quail Hollow, one of five top 10s since the Masters - including finishing fourth at the Scottish Open the week before Portrush, and a share of eighth at the Wyndham last he is looking to push to finish top 30 on the PGA Tour and grab a place in the season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta. He currently lies 41st and competes in the first play-off event, the FedEx St Jude, which starts in Memphis this who he credits for helping him through the toughest stretch of his career, Fitzpatrick says: "My mum and dad and wife Katherine."She was constantly reminding me that I won the US Open; 'you're a great player, you're going to get it back'."It really is true, you've got to have the right people around you and I feel very lucky that I've always had that." Football tactics fascinate Fitzpatrick The other constant has been his love of football. This conversation began with Fitzpatrick seeking contact details for a tactical expert who had appeared on the BBC Sport website."People think its a joke but I love football way more than golf," Fitzpatrick smiled. "I'm obsessed with football. It's brilliant for me."I love supporting Sheffield United, over here in the States they show every game I could wish to see, which is amazing."Fitzpatrick has visited Premier League side Brentford and spoken face-to-face with the performance team at champions Liverpool to glean insights. His voice lights up while recalling the people he met and the chats that was like a sponge absorbing information. "How they use data, how culture is so important," he said. "Just fascinating."Finding little things that maybe we could take into golf - I feel like we've taken a lot from it."But not just golf. He claims there could come a day when he might switch sports."I don't know when I'll ever get time to do this, but I'd love to work in football if the opportunity ever arose in some way, shape or form," Fitzpatrick said."That's extremely wishful thinking, but I just find it so interesting to be part of. I love reading about it and everything about it."More pressing is a golf career that is back on the up. Along with trying to make it to East Lake for the Tour Championship, he wants to retain his place in Europe's Ryder Cup team for next month's trophy defence at Bethpage in New York."It is nice to play well at the crunch time; the play-offs and the Ryder Cup," Fitzpatrick said. "To be part of that would be very special again."He has played three Ryder Cups but his record of only one win in eight matches is a frustration, and poor reflection of the talents of someone with 10 tournament wins in his professional career."Despite my record I still want to be part of it to give myself a chance to improve on it," he he makes Luke Donald's team, Fitzpatrick will bring plenty of perspective to the European team."In the last 15 months there's been an extra effort to try and be a little bit more forgiving to myself and understanding my own psychology really," he admitted."My biggest thing I would take away from the slump is catching things earlier. I can't afford to get to that stage again."It was a tough time for me and the problem was it went on for so long. You can't afford to be behind the eight ball and you need to catch those things as early as you can, and turn them round as quickly as you can."Spoken like a golfer who might one day deliver half-time team talks.
BBC News
17 hours ago
- BBC News
'It's pretty cool to have that surname'
New Wolves left-back David Moller Wolfe says it was "meant to be" that he joined the 23-year-old became Vitor Pereira's third signing of the summer over the weekend when he completed his £10m move from AZ Alkmaar, with his moving following the arrivals of Jhon Arias and Fer only is Wolfe sharing a name with the symbol on the club's badge, he also has an image of the animal tattooed on his arm."I felt incredibly wanted from the second I talked to Domenico [Teti] and the second I talked to the coach. Obviously, the Premier League is a big, big league, especially also in Norway," he told club media after signing."It's the biggest league that people watch, so when a Premier League club came in, and Wolverhampton came in for me, I was extremely keen on joining."Personally, I think it's pretty cool to have that surname and then to play for Wolverhampton."Me and my brothers have actually joked a little bit about it a couple of years ago, and now it is turning into a reality. I think it was meant to be."Wolfe made 92 appearances for AZ Alkmaar, scoring four times and providing 10 assists, and when asked what he will bring to the team, he said: "I'm an extremely hard-working player that can run up and down the left side for 90 minutes straight."I give a lot of energy to the team, and I always do my best to help the team."I'm very confident. I think I have the qualities to play in the Premier League and to deliver and to perform. Also here, I will play as a wing-back, so that means I can have even more freedom to go on offensive runs, so I can't wait."
Daily Mirror
18 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Man Utd given five-word transfer message as agreement reached on Alan Shearer verdict
Manchester United have made two signings this summer but Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have outlined what other transfer business the club must do Alan Shearer has pinpointed two key areas Manchester United must address in the transfer market – and it seems the club agree with his verdict. Ruben Amorim's side have completed two high-profile moves but the iconic striker believes the club still need several more new recruits at Old Trafford. United wasted no time in snapping up Matheus Cunha from Wolves after meeting his £62.5million price tag. Manager Ruben Amorim has since bolstered his forward line further by clinching a deal for ex-Brentford ace Bryan Mbeumo, which could reach £71m, with the forward making his first appearance in their draw with Everton on Sunday. United will be determined to bounce back from their woeful 15th-place finish last term and are eager to secure more signings before the transfer window shuts. However, Shearer has insisted that the club needs to bring in new players in two specific areas. "Two good need at least another three, I would say," Shearer said on the Rest is Football podcast. "They need a top-class centre-forward and goalkeeper." While Shearer commended United's recent acquisitions, Gary Lineker delivered a succinct five-word message to the recruitment team: "They need a lot more. A lot more." It appears United may agree with Lineker and Shearer's assessments. The club are eyeing a move for RB Leipzig's sought-after striker Benjamin Sesko. The 22-year-old is also on Newcastle United's radar, with Leipzig reportedly demanding around £70m for the talented young forward. United are on the hunt for a new number nine to bolster their attacking options, despite Rasmus Hojlund's determination to keep his spot at Old Trafford. Sesko impressed last season with 21 goals and six assists in 45 appearances across all competitions, though Shearer has admitted that a move for striker would be a gamble. Shearer also suggested that United need to strengthen their goalkeeping options and it is an area of the team that has been the subject of speculation. The Sun have reported that United are searching for a new deputy to Andre Onana, with Antwerp's Senne Lammens emerging as a potential candidate. Onana is gearing up for his third campaign as the main man between the sticks for United, and the Manchester Evening News has outlined that any newcomer is unlikely to replace him immediately. This speculation comes even though United have been linked with PSG's Gianluigi Donnarumma, who is entering the final year of his contract, and Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez. The implications of signing Lammens or another backup would likely impact Altay Bayindir's future at United. The 27-year-old joined the club from Fenerbahce, where he was captain, in 2023, but has since made only 11 appearances. On the field, United had reason to celebrate after clinching the Premier League Summer Series title following a 2-2 draw with Everton, adding to their victories over West Ham and Bournemouth. Post-match, captain Bruno Fernandes criticised the team for being "a little bit lazy", but Amorim had no qualms in supporting his captain's call for higher standards. "It's saying that they understand the situation. So it's a good feeling. So tomorrow we are going to travel, one day off and we return to Carrington to work," Amorim said when asked about Fernandes' comments. "Understanding that in this club everything is ups and downs. We understand that, but I prefer that feeling than the other side." Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
