Alex Fitzpatrick Explains Coach Switch Behind Turnaround in Ball Striking at the Zurich Classic
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2019 Matthew Fitzpatrick ENG and Alex Fitzpatrick ENG on the 2nd tee during third and final round on Sunday at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2025 on the Old Course at St. Andrews Golf Club, Fife, Scotland. 05/10/2025. Picture Fran Caffrey / Golffile.ie All photo usage must carry mandatory copyright credit Golffile Fran Caffrey Copyright: xThosxCaffreyx *EDI*
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2019 Matthew Fitzpatrick ENG and Alex Fitzpatrick ENG on the 2nd tee during third and final round on Sunday at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2025 on the Old Course at St. Andrews Golf Club, Fife, Scotland. 05/10/2025. Picture Fran Caffrey / Golffile.ie All photo usage must carry mandatory copyright credit Golffile Fran Caffrey Copyright: xThosxCaffreyx *EDI*
Alex Fitzpatrick's recent showing on Saturday at the Zurich Classic at TPC Louisiana has been integral to the Fitzpatrick Brothers' commanding lead going into Sunday. The younger brother recently revealed a possible reason for his improved ball-striking spark.
Speaking during a post-round media session at TPC Louisiana, Alex discussed a change in the coaches for the pair, explaining that he had switched to his brother's former coach, Mike Walker.
Discussing the change, Alex revealed, "I ended up changing coach from -- well, to Mike Walker, actually, Matt's old coach. We did a bit of a switch-a-roo. That kind of happened in October last year," referring to his decision to switch coaches.
Alex explained that the shift was necessary to save his card after struggling with his ball striking for the majority of the previous season.
"Mike has done a really good job with my driver and the rest of my game as well to where I feel in control of my driving," Alex stated during the conference.
The brothers carded a record 57 on Saturday, leaving them at 30-under par and holding a four-shot lead as they head into the final round at Avondale. Alex contributed significantly on the back nine, showcasing his improvement under new tutelage.
Mike Walker’s Impact on the Fitzpatrick Surge
The transition has already shown immediate results, with Alex moving into sixth place for greens in regulation and twelfth place for driving precision, compared to the problems encountered throughout the previous year.
"His game has really turned a corner these last few months, and I believe in him to continue that trend," commented Matt on Alex, after breaking the record at New Orleans.
Their improved technical consistency allowed the brothers to play more aggressively, as Alex's greater driving precision made Matt feel more secure when aiming for the pins during the match's most crucial moments.
The two brothers finished up their play on Saturday with five straight birdies and thus took over the leaderboard position at the 30-under par mark going into Sunday's round.
Alex credits this success to the coaching change, since the hard work put into his game is finally paying off in the biggest tournaments.
Will Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick keep up the momentum to clinch victory on Sunday? Let us know in the comments.
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Written by
Abhishek Sharma
Edited by
Surjo Roy