Matt Fitzpatrick thought he’d crafted a strong case to make Team Europe, but the worry of not securing a spot still flashed through his mind. “Of course it does,” Fitzpatrick said.

His first three Ryder Cups were underwhelming. He went just 1-7-0, the lone win during four-balls in 2023. Europe captain Luke Donald challenged him to play both the British and European Masters tournaments and golf in the final pairing before giving him a spot this year, too. But after a slow start in 2025 and the spark from Donald’s request, Fitzpatrick enters the weekend at Bethpage Black as a captain’s pick with a chance to change his reputation in the international event.

“I wasn’t necessarily thinking I was guaranteed a spot, but I felt like I thoroughly deserved to be in the conversation, given how well

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