"We Ended Up Having a Fight": Matt Fitzpatrick Reveals Thoughtful Interaction With Fans
via: Imago
via: Imago
One week, Matt Fitzpatrick was dealing with hecklers, and the following week, fans were scrambling to show their support. Fitzpatrick shared the story of this dramatic shift in reception following his victory at the 2026 Valspar Championship.
At the Players Championship, Matt Fitzpatrick faced crowd noise, including “USA” chants during his round against Cameron Young. He addressed it later and moved on without extending the issue.
A week later, at the Valspar Championship on March 22, Fitzpatrick revealed fans were busy buying him dinner.
“This has been like the best week ever, because I had two people offer to pay for my dinner this week. One person did pay for my dinner, and the other person we ended up having a fight about it. About who was paying for whose dinner. So, yeah, everyone was awesome,” he said at Palm Harbor, Florida.
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 08: Matt Fitzpatrick of England hits a drive at the 15th hole during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard 2026 at Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Golf Course on March 08, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire GOLF: MAR 08 PGA, Golf Herren Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon5732603080134
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 08: Matt Fitzpatrick of England hits a drive at the 15th hole during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard 2026 at Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Golf Course on March 08, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire GOLF: MAR 08 PGA, Golf Herren Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon5732603080134
The 2022 U.S. Open winner described steady support during the round, with spectators following him and reacting to each shot.
A week earlier at TPC Sawgrass, he encountered chants and reactions from the crowd during the final round. He later compared that environment to the 2025 Ryder Cup and said it did not reach the same level. During play, he also exchanged a remark with Young on the 18th fairway.
After the round, he kept his response measured, referencing past experiences in similar situations and noting differences in crowd behavior across events. He also completed the round by acknowledging Young and his family.
Matt Fitzpatrick secured his Third PGA Tour Title
Matt Fitzpatrick won the 2026 Valspar Championship on Sunday with a total of 11-under 273. He secured his third PGA Tour title, and first in nearly three years, with a 14-foot birdie putt on the final hole to finish one stroke ahead of David Lipsky.
The win earned him $1.638 million and 500 FedExCup points. The 31-year-old began the final round three shots behind Sungjae Im and carded a 3-under 68 on Sunday, completing the weekend without a bogey.
The result followed his finish at The Players Championship, where a bogey on the final hole left him one shot behind Cameron Young.
During the final round, Fitzpatrick also raised concerns about the pace of play involving his playing partner, Adrien Dumont de Chassart, who had earned a pace-of-play warning.
Im Sung-jae held the 54-hole lead, returned a 2-over 74, and finished tied for fourth alongside Xander Schauffele and Marco Penge, while Jordan Smith placed third.
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Written by
Aditi Singh
Edited by
Sagnik Bagchi