Matt Fitzpatrick admits he has overplayed in bid to make Ryder Cup team
Last Updated: 31/07/16 9:59pm
Matt Fitzpatrick admitted that he has played too many tournaments in his bid to make the European Ryder Cup team, following his final round 67 at the PGA Championship.
The 21-year-old from Sheffield arrived at Baltusrol on the back of four successive missed cuts and was in danger of making it five on the spin.
However, having reached the weekend on two over, Fitzpatrick carded scores of 70 and 67 - a welcome return to form.
"I'm obviously delighted, a bogey-free 67 in the last round of major is a great way to finish," Fitzpatrick said. "It's the first time for a while I've managed to keep the bogeys off my card. There weren't as many birdies as I would've liked and I probably left a few out there, but overall I have to be very happy.
"It was a massive relief to make the cut on Friday, because I'd expected to miss by one as has been the case quite a lot recently.
"My dad wouldn't stop refreshing the scoring and I had loads of people texting me telling me I was in, then I was out, so it was a bit of a nightmare, but luckily I made it through and made the most of my opportunity."
While Fitzpatrick's schedule remains hectic in the coming weeks, he insists that he will look to take a break when he has the chance.
"I'm playing the Paul Lawrie Match Play next week, then taking a week off and playing Czech Masters and Made in Denmark," he added. "I need to take a proper break off at some point, because I've been playing far too much golf.
"The reason why I've done it is obvious, but it's something I need to work on.
"I haven't played anywhere near as well as I can this week, and yet I've still walked away with a half-decent result. So if it clicks and I can put it all together, like I did in Sweden [to win the Nordea Masters], then I know I'm capable of challenging."
Meanwhile, Justin Rose heads off to the Olympics having posted a final round 68 to finish on four-under par for the championship.
The 2013 US Open winner bogeyed seven and 10 but made back-to-back gains on both the front and the back nine to end the tournament on a high.
Rose was joined on four under by another Brit, Russell Knox. The Scot carded four birdies and three bogeys in a round of 69 while Ross Fisher made four birdies in a round of 69 to take him to -2.
Masters champion Danny Willett ended the week with consecutive birdies to get back to level par for his round, and +5 overall. That was two shots better off than Lee Westwood who endured a difficult final day - his 75 including four bogeys and a double at the last.
