Matt Fitzpatrick Has An Issue With Pace Of Play On Tour

Matt Fitzpatrick is a fast player. In a day and age where so much is made of pace of play, it is evident that some players would like to get into the clubhouse faster than others.

Fitzpatrick said in a recent interview:

“If you’re in a three-ball, in my opinion, you should be round in four hours, four-and-a-half absolute maximum. It’s a disgrace to get anywhere near that. You’re talking five-fifteen, five-and-a-half at some venues, and it’s truly appalling.”

🗣️ “It’s truly appalling. No one’s going to do anything about it.”

Matt Fitzpatrick thinks slow play is getting out of hand on the PGA Tour ⏱ pic.twitter.com/o5vDN2ncwf

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) April 19, 2023

Pace of play has been a major topic of conversation in recent memory, especially after the Masters, where the final round’s final pairing of Brooks Koepka and eventual champion Jon Rahm were rumored to be held up by Patrick Cantlay, whose playing partner Viktor Hovland had enough of Cantlay’s nonchalant nature between shots.

Viktor definitely sending Cantlay a message at this stage of the round. pic.twitter.com/Y70kfAi73K

— TweeterAlliss (Parody) (by Jove) (@TweeterAlliss) April 9, 2023

Fitzpatrick, who won last year’s U.S. Open at the Country Club at Brookline, has been highlighted as one of the Tour’s most timely players. His pre-shot routines are rumored to occur while others are teeing off. By the time Fitzpatrick gets up to the tee box, he’s ready to hit.

Although he does his part, other golfers need to do the same, at least in his eyes.

“I think they give us way too much leeway to get around,” he said. Although the conversation comes up consistently, the issue still remains, and in his perspective, “no one’s ever done anything” to solve the problem.

“I’ve got my opinions, they’re probably strong opinions, but you know, PGA Tour, DP World Tour, no one’s going to do anything about it,” he added. “It’s just the way it’s going to be.”

Cover Image Via CBS SPORTS