Matt Fitzpatrick what's in the bag 2025
By: Derek Clements | Edited: Mon 17 Nov 2025
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Matt Fitzpatrick stole Rory McIlroy’s thunder, beating the Northern Irishman in a playoff to claim the DP World Tour Championship for a third time - but he couldn’t stop McIlroy winning a seventh Race to Dubai crown.
The Englishman started the day one shot off the lead but made three birdies in the first five holes to stay in the hunt before finishing with a flourish to sign for a bogey-free 66 and set the clubhouse target at 18 under par.
In a dramatic finish, McIlroy got the eagle he needed at the last to force a playoff, only to find the penalty area with his tee-shot at the first extra hole. And Fitzpatrick took full advantage, getting up and down for par to see off his Ryder Cup team-mate, win a second Rolex Series title and add a third DP World Tour Championship crown to the ones he won in 2016 and 2020.
McIlroy's second-place finish saw him clinch a seventh Harry Vardon Trophy after a stellar campaign in which he achieved the career Grand Slam with a memorable Masters win, tasted victory at the Irish Open and played a starring role in Europe's historic away Ryder Cup triumph at Bethpage Black.
He has now won the Race to Dubai title in each of the past four seasons and is just one away from Colin Montgomerie's record of eight.
Dubai residents Tommy Fleetwood and Laurie Canter finished alongside Ludvig Aberg and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen in a tie for third on 17 under.
Fitzpatrick endured a difficult start to the year before following up a top-10 finish at the US PGA Championship with back-to-back fourth places at the Scottish Open and The Open.
His fine form continued as he finished inside the top six at the British Masters, Omega European Masters and BMW PGA Championship before helping Europe to an historic away Ryder Cup triumph at Bethpage Black.
He made a bright start to the week at Jumeirah Golf Estates, posting rounds of 69 on Thursday and Friday before Saturday's 66 moved him to within one of the lead with one round to go.
And the 31-year-old flew out of the blocks on day four, opening his birdie account from five feet at the second before holing from almost 50 feet on the fourth for another birdie.
He made it back-to-back gains with a five-footer on the fifth before parring his next eight holes to fall off the pace.
But two successive birdies at the 14th and 15th brought him back into contention and he birdied the last from five feet to get to 18 under.
A nerveless par in the playoff saw him enter the DP World Tour winner's circle for the first time since the 2023 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Who is Matt Fitzpatrick?
Matthew Thomas Fitzpatrick was born in Sheffield on September 1, 1994.
He is a keen football fan and supports Sheffield United. His younger brother Alex played college golf at Wake Forest University and played in the Walker Cup in 2019 and 2021, turing professional in 2022. He now plays on the DP World Tour.
Fitzpatrick won the 2012 Boys Amateur and made the cut at the 2013 Open, finishing as the low amateur. Later in 2013, Fitzpatrick won the US Amateur, which earned him invitations to the 2014 Masters, US Open and Open. The US Amateur win took him to the top of the world amateur golf rankings and in September 2013 he played for GB&I in the Walker Cup.
In September 2013 Fitzpatrick enrolled at Northwestern but left after one quarter, in January 2014, to pursue a full-time amateur golf career. He played in five tournaments for Northwestern in the autumn of 2013. He was the co-champion of the Rod Myers Invitational at Duke University to lead Northwestern to the team title, and also recorded a third place finish at the Windon Memorial Classic to help Northwestern win the tournament. He recorded finishes of 53rd, 23rd, and 15th in his other three tournaments.
Fitzpatrick turned professional after the 2014 US Open. His pro debut was at the Irish Open, after which he played several events on the DP World Tour and Challenge Tour.
In November 2014, he entered the DP World Tour qualifying school, finishing 11th and earning his playing rights.
He started the 2015 season by missing six cuts in the first eight competitions on the season; in June, he registered a third place at the Lyoness Open followed by second place at the European Masters. His maiden victory came in October 2015, when he won the British Masters at Woburn, claiming the first prize of £500,000. He finished his rookie season on tour with one win, nine top-10 placements, and a 12th place in the final Order of Merit.
In April 2016, he competed at the Masters, finishing tied for the 7th place; in June, he won the Nordea Masters and climbed to 32nd place in the Official World Golf Ranking. In November 2016, Fitzpatrick won the DP World Tour Championship for the first time.
In September 2017, he won the European Masters and successfully defended the title 12 months later.
In December 2020, Fitzpatrick won his second DP World Tour Championship.
In September 2021, he played on the European team in the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits. The USA won 19-9 and Fitzpatrick lost all three matches but three weeks later he won the Andalucia Masters.
In June 2022, he won his first major championship at the US Open with a one-shot victory at Brookline - the same venue where he won the US Amateur in 2013.
In April 2023, Fitzpatrick won the RBC Heritage, defeating Jordan Spieth in a playoff. Fitzpatrick won on the third playoff hole after hitting his approach shot to within one foot to set up the winning birdie. And in September he played for Europe team in the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone, going 1-2-0 as Europe thrashed the Americans. In October he won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. He also won the pro-am part of the event with his mother, Susan.
He then suffered something of a slump before recapturing his best form earlier this year.
This was his 10th win on the DP World Tour. He has made 195 starts, making 153 cuts. Apart from his wins, he has had 10 seconds, six thirds and 29 other top 10 finishes. He is ranked 24th in the world and finished the season in third place in the Race to Dubai.
He averages yards from the tee, finds % of fairways and hits % of greens in regulation. He averages putts per round, gets up and down from the sand % of the time and has a scoring average of .
Matt Fitzpatrick's key stats
Driving Distance - 306.60 Yards
Driving Accuracy - 60.51%
Greens in Regulation - 73.84%
Sand Saves - 62.96%
Putts Per Round - 28.77
Scoring Average - 68.98
Matt Fitzpatrick's recent results
DP World Tour Championship - 1st
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship - T32nd
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship - T21st
BMW PGA Championship - T5th
Omega European Masters - 5th
Betfred British Masters - T6th
BMW Championship - T17th
FedEx St Jude Championship - T32nd
Wyndham Championship - T8th
The 153rd Open - T4th
What's in Matt Fitzpatrick's golf bag?
Driver: Titleist GT3 (9 Degrees)
Fairway Woods: TaylorMade Qi35 (15 Degrees & 18 Degrees)
Irons: PING i230 4-Iron & S55 Irons (5-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46.10F, 52.12F)
Putter: Bettinardi BB48 Prototype
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
About the author
Derek Clements is a seasoned sports journalist and regular Golfshake contributor, specialising in tour coverage, opinion pieces, and feature writing. With a long career in national newspapers and golf media, he has reported on the game across Europe, the United States and Australia. A passionate golfer, he has played and reviewed numerous renowned courses, with personal favourites including Pebble Beach, Kingsbarns, Aldeburgh, Old Thorns and the K Club. His love of the game informs his thoughtful commentary on both professional golf and the wider golfing community.
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