Fitzpatrick beat McIlroy to the DP World Tour Championship title on Sunday nevertheless it wasn’t the primary time the pair have shared the hyperlinks
Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick have lengthy loved a friendship (Picture: Getty)
Matt Fitzpatrick heaped reward on Rory McIlroy previous to their thrilling showdown on the DP World Championship. The Northern Irishman held the lead going into the ultimate spherical on the Earth Course, however a number of errors on the again 9 resulted in a play-off in opposition to the Englishman.
Mirroring their earlier battle on the 18th gap, Fitzpatrick emerged victorious to say his third title at Jumeirah and safe the £2.3million prize cash. Regardless of their on-course rivalry on Sunday, the golfers share a robust friendship, and solely this summer time the 31-year-old expressed his deep admiration for the five-time main winner.
The duo accomplished their Open Championship marketing campaign collectively in July, with Fitzpatrick witnessing first-hand the passionate backing McIlroy garnered from the native supporters. After being knocked out of competition, with Scottie Scheffler finally claiming the Claret Jug, Fitzpatrick mirrored on the environment in the course of the ultimate day at Portrush: “Yeah, it was good.
“I’ve heard sufficient “Rorys” to final me a lifetime. I really like taking part in with Rory. He is implausible. He is such an awesome man, and in an atmosphere like that the place he is clearly making an attempt arguably greater than everybody else to win, to only have the category that he has is superior.”
While Sunday’s play-off proved a devastating disappointment for McIlroy, the 36-year-old nonetheless secured the Race to Dubai crown. The accolade – which he received for the fourth consecutive yr and seventh time total – introduced with it a £1.5m bonus. Fitzpatrick praised McIlroy following their duel, saying: “He (McIlroy) is considered one of only some the place you realize you’re going to a play-off. You’re two clear with one to play and you realize you’re going to a play-off as a result of he did it once more in typical Rory trend.
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“I struggled firstly of the yr, clearly, and to show it spherical in the summertime like I did, have the Ryder Cup like I did which is difficult to prime, however the best way I performed right this moment – there was one unhealthy shot all day. So happy with myself.” Regardless of his disappointment at narrowly lacking a fourth DP World Championship victory, McIlroy congratulated Fitzpatrick on his spectacular late-season kind. It was pleasing to summon what was required to achieve the play-off.
“However sadly hitting it within the water there on 18 within the play-off simply kind of put me behind the eight-ball, however completely happy for Matt,” the Masters champion stated. “He is had an awesome finish to the season. Performed nice to get on the Ryder Cup group, after which he is kind of saved it going since. So actually completely happy for him as nicely.”
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