Out of Matt’s shadow and meeting Michael Jordan – Alex Fitzpatrick’s rise
Alex Fitzpatrick says his recent rise in golf has helped him establish an identity beyond being world number four Matt Fitzpatrick’s younger brother. His victories on the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, followed by a memorable encounter with Michael Jordan, have reinforced his belief that he belongs among the game’s leading players.
Fitzpatrick won the Indian Open in March and partnered Matt to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in April, making them the first brothers to win a PGA Tour event. He has also recorded five top-10 finishes in 13 PGA Tour starts, including fourth at the Truist Championship, and has climbed from outside the world’s top 250 to 68th within a year. He credits permanent work with Mike Walker, Matt’s former coach, and greater self-belief, while both brothers could now contend for Europe’s 2027 Ryder Cup team.
- Alex Fitzpatrick is emerging from his brother Matt’s shadow.
- Tour wins and strong finishes have lifted him to world number 68.
- He says self-belief and coaching have driven his progress.
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Alex Fitzpatrick is an English professional golfer and the younger brother of Matt Fitzpatrick, who has been among the world’s top players. Sharing the same sport and surname has often meant Alex was compared with his older brother as he developed his own career.
The DP World Tour and PGA Tour are major professional golf circuits, where players compete in tournaments around the world. Strong results on these tours can improve a golfer’s world ranking and bring them closer to selection for team events such as the Ryder Cup, contested between Europe and the United States.
Alex has worked with coach Mike Walker and says growing self-belief has helped him progress. His results have raised the possibility that both brothers could compete for places in Europe’s 2027 Ryder Cup team.