Matt Fitzpatrick responds to Luke Donald's bold Ryder Cup plan

Responding to Luke Donald's plan to potentially rest key players in the Ryder Cup, Fitzpatrick claims he's prepared to play all five games.

Matt Fitzpatrick
Matt Fitzpatrick

European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald caught everyone's attention when he declared he might rest some of the team's best players, including PGA Tour stars Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland, in order to retain "freshness" for the Sunday singles. 

With the Marco Simone course in Rome set to be one of the most punishing courses to host the prestigious event, it appears the European captain is wary of burning out some of his best players if they are forced to take part in all four sessions on Friday and Saturday before the 12 singles matches take place on Sunday. 

Donald, 45, has confirmed players who are used to playing in all five sessions might have to make do with just four this year, if he deems it necessary in order to get the best out of them over the course of the weekend. 

Five Europeans in this current team have played all five sessions before, with McIlroy having done it on four separate occasions, Justin Rose twice, and Rahm, Hovland and Tommy Fleetwood all once each. 

Matt Fitzpatrick
Matt Fitzpatrick

Matt Fitzpatrick spoke to GolfMagic Reviews Editor Johnny Percival in London this week

One player on the European team has confirmed Donald's fears of the course's length and toughness but claims he has been preparing for months for the eventuality that he might play in all five games.

Matt Fitzpatrick revealed to us in an exclusive interview this week that despite the conditions being tough, confidence could be key to deciding who plays the most in Rome.

Fitzpatrick told GolfMagic: 

"It definitely is, it's a tough golf course it really is, it’s hilly, very, very hilly, and obviously the weather looks to be hot as well. I prefer that but you know you have to be smart and I understand that Luke might want not want to do that (play people for all five sessions), but at the same time whoever it is, if they're playing really well you want that confidence going into every single game so some players might have to.
"All being well I will play really well, and be ready. It's something that I spoke to my trainer about three months ago and then just try to put a plan in place to work on my fitness levels just in case it does happen, then I've got a better chance of recovering."

Off the back of another fine year on the PGA Tour, in which he won once at the RBC Heritage, Fitzpatrick is eager to improve on his dismal 0-5-0 Ryder Cup record. 

Reflecting on his last two Ryder Cup performances, Fitzpatrick told GolfMagic: 

"Yeah I think my game has changed a lot since 2016, I’m a different player now than what I was then. I’d argue that I wasn’t ready for 2016 but I was ready for 2018 then missed that one.
"Marco Simone is a golf course that I've played well round before and I feel like I can obviously do well on again. I've got to put some good work in this week with my coach and I want to be as sharp as possible heading into the week."

Fitzpatrick also spoke to us about a number of other topics, including why he cannot get on with two particular golf brands and why he is taking a different approach with Ludvig Aberg

Matthew Fitzpatrick was speaking to GolfMagic about his addition of a playable character in PGA Tour 2K23.

With only days to go until the first tee shot is hit at Marco Simone, would you like to see Fitzpatrick playing all five sessions in Rome, and do you think Donald is right to suggest resting some of the stronger players in the team?  Share your thoughts and comments over on the GolfMagic social media channels. 

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