Matthew Fitzpatrick expects a completely new experience at the Ryder Cup
Wednesday 7 September 2016 15:29, UK
Ahead of the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine, Matthew Fitzpatrick is expecting a very new golfing experience.
Fitzpatrick is set to take part in his first Ryder Cup as part of captain Darren Clarke's European team. The 22-year-old is one of the six rookies Clarke has selected.
Fitzpatrick has never had the experience of playing team golf before and says it is an experience he is looking forward to.
"Its something completely new. It's nothing that you do in the professional game," he told Sky Sports News HQ.
"There's not much team events or matchplay going on so it's going to be a great week. I've heard so many good stories about it and it'll be exciting."
The Englishman has had three top ten finishes in his last four events and wants to keep his strong run of form going in the build-up to Hazeltine, with the Ryder Cup set to start on September 30.
"Having some form going into it is helpful but I've still got one more week next week in Italy and then a week off before so I just need to make sure I'm fully ready for it," he added.
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"If you think about how exciting it's going to be, it's going to be a great week but at the minute I'm just trying to concentrate on week-to-week and play as well as I can."
Three-time Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallagher is also confident the European side can deliver and that being considered the underdog could give them the advantage.
"Americans are going to be under pressure to deliver and, in some ways, if Europe are underdogs then I think it would help us," he said.
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"Americans know that Europe roll up their sleeves and like a fight and get in there, that's what they don't like. I'm expecting a very close match."
