Q. If he pulls it off what would it show about him that's able to do it so quickly.
RORY McILROY: If who? Sorry? I got him. (Laughing).
Q. Cameron Young (laughing).
MATT FITZPATRICK: Yeah, it would mean the world to him, yeah, it's amazing. I would be, I couldn't be prouder of him, even more proud. But a long way to go, so I thought what he did yesterday was incredible. I watched a lot of it and I thought he played fantastic. So hopefully same again today.
Q. He got thrown in the deep end after Zurich, why do you think he's been able to make such a smooth transition to the TOUR?
MATT FITZPATRICK: Well, I think he has his own self belief. I think obviously he's been in some good form, I think that helps. When you're swinging it nicely and chipping well, putting well, hitting the shots that you want to hit, you know, that you see, it obviously makes a big difference the confidence level. So I'm sure that playing with me and seeing the shots that I hit and he's probably thinking, well I can do that too. So that definitely helps when you certainly like you say, are thrown in the deep end.
Q. Can you describe the gap in his game from where he was last fall before working with Mike to where he is now?
MATT FITZPATRICK: Yeah, massive difference. Massive, massive jump. I feel like he's slowly getting his speed back as well. Mike did a great job of speaking to him about his driver was his big thing and just getting it more in play and then from there his irons were always a strength as well. But his driving's become a strength. He led last week off the tee, which is huge for him considering where he was, like you say. I think Mike's done a fantastic job of changing that for him and changing that perception for himself as well and being able to hit driver much better.
Q. What's your plans for the rest of the day, are you going to stay here and watch it?
MATT FITZPATRICK: Yeah, I'll be around, yeah. I'll away from everyone else.
Q. You mentioned it, but kind of a funny question, but what percentage would you take of his success due to you?
MATT FITZPATRICK: (Laughing). I wouldn't take any percentage, he's the one that's hitting the shots. Obviously I really could not truly more believe that it was a 50 percent effort each at Zurich. There was definitely not anyone carrying the other. He deserves everything else that comes for him, yeah.
Q. What any advice you gave him last fall when he was going through that of fighting for his first card?
MATT FITZPATRICK: Yeah, I mean, we had a conversation about where his game was and what he needed to do. It's difficult because he saw Mark Blackburn before he made the switch to Mike and Mark obviously lives in the U.S., he's playing on the European Tour, it's difficult to have a relationship like that. And difficult to have a coaching relationship doing everything over video and not getting much time to spend in person. We spoke about go and see Mike. Go and see Mike and get sort of a second opinion, get some help and he can kind of feed that back to Mark. And kind of made the switch over pretty seamlessly. Those last stretch of results in the fall were really good for him and obviously gave him that confidence that you saw in his game that was different and to come out and start the season well as well.
Q. It gets talked a lot about how different you two are, interest there any similarities?
MATT FITZPATRICK: Probably from a self belief standpoint, we really, I would say, we believe in the ability that we have and against anyone that we play against, really. I think just something is maybe being from Sheffield and you kind of got that sort of work ethic and I'll just out work you. I think you he definitely has that belief in himself that he kind of can look around and go, no, I can beat these guys as well. That's what, to be a good player out here you have to have that belief in yourself.
Q. You developed on different timelines, you turned pro real young, he did four years of college. That different timeline and the way you guys have developed is that based on personality differences? Do you know what I'm saying?
MATT FITZPATRICK: No, I think just more probably, I would say just more golfing ability difference, I would guess. My plan was to do four years at Northwestern as well, but the summer before I qualified for The Open Championship, won the U.S. Amateur, that kind of fast tracked me to do things, invites to PGA TOUR events and whatnot. So, all of a sudden, do that, made the cut at the U.S. Open, turned pro, get my card and I've done all that at 19 years old. That's kind of where I was with my game at that point.
Alex went to Wake Forest, he wasn't ready to do that yet, and his game developed and changed over time in college. I guess that's why he's just a little bit different.
Q. When he was asked yesterday about looking really comfortable in the final group he gave you a lot of credit just being around you, being introduced to Ryder Cups as your brother, etcetera. Can you talk about how you really tried to maybe take him under your wing and help with that progression?
MATT FITZPATRICK: We've not really played much. We've not played at all over here other than the Zurich four times. I think seeing him in European playing a few nines with him and, yeah, it's important for me personally just to try and help him as much as I can because why wouldn't you? He's my brother and I feel like I've got an advantage on someone who is four years younger than me, so I've got that experience and things I've learned and been in scenarios, and fortunate enough for me I've been in pretty much every scenario you can be in in the game at this level. So I can share those insights and how I felt at the time and things that were different and I think that's obviously a really nice thing to be able to do and hopefully that can help him.
Q. Your success, his success, y'all are expecting a child, can you describe what this year's been like for the Fitzpatrick family?
MATT FITZPATRICK: Yeah, I was thinking about this the other day, it's just wild, yeah. It's hard to believe how amazing it's been, to be honest. It really has, it's been incredible. There's still a long way left to go. Hopefully he has a great day today and there's more success for us both to come. But, you know, this is the game of golf, anything can happen.
Q. How do you feel going you'll be one of the favorites going into the PGA, how do you feel, have you prepared, what will you be working on when you get there?
MATT FITZPATRICK: Yeah, obviously looking forward to next week. Never played it. Heard some good things. So that's always nice before you head to a tournament. Yeah, didn't have, just didn't play well this week. My driver cracked on Wednesday before the pro-am, didn't have time to really do any testing or anything. Put one in, not a hundred percent comfortable with it, so kind of struggled with that a little bit this week. Didn't feel like I hit my irons as close as I could have. I chipped it okay. Didn't hole a putt. So probably explains why I'm almost last.
Q. Anything specific you're working on?
MATT FITZPATRICK: No, nothing really. This golf course, I don't particularly feel like it suits my own personal eye. Like if you play well you play well. I didn't play well on top of that, so I just felt like it was a bit of a double whammy. But I feel like my game's in a good enough state and I feel like I can get some good work done Monday to Wednesday next week and be ready for next Thursday.
Q. Do you hope to one day to be known by something other than Alex Fitzpatrick's brother?
MATT FITZPATRICK: Is this payback from when I got you before? No, I'm fine with it. It's funny because for years it's always, How's Matt doing? How's Mat doing? And now all I get is, How's Alex doing? How's Alex doing? So it's all good fun.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports