The US PGA Championship is upon us, and with it, the anticipation for an English winner to end a century-long drought. While the pressure is on Matt Fitzpatrick to deliver, his recent form and statistics paint a compelling picture of a golfer poised for success. Fitzpatrick, a 31-year-old from Sheffield, has enjoyed a remarkable start to the year, with three wins in his past five starts and over $10.5 million in earnings. This places him in the top five on the PGA Tour for strokes gained off the tee, strokes gained from tee to green, and strokes gained approaching the green, all key indicators of a player's form. What's more, his accuracy is top-six, which will be crucial at Aronimink, a course renowned for its fairway bunkers. However, his putting, ranked 99th on the PGA Tour, could be a cause for concern on a course where the greens are expected to be the main defence. Yet, historical statistics suggest that his putting is one of his strongest parts of his game, given his consistent top 30 rankings in strokes gained with the putter in the past four seasons. Fitzpatrick's rise to the top of the game has been accompanied by the success of his younger brother, Alex. Their pairs win in New Orleans earned Alex a two-year PGA Tour card, and the 27-year-old has since climbed to 83rd in the world rankings. While Matt Fitzpatrick has employed a data-driven approach to his golf, his brother is more of a 'go with the flow' player. However, despite their contrasting styles, the siblings share a strong bond, and their joint success on the course has brought them closer together. As Fitzpatrick prepares to tee off at Aronimink, the question on everyone's mind is whether he can end the long wait for an English winner at the US PGA Championship. In my opinion, Fitzpatrick's recent form and statistics make him a strong contender, and I believe he has the potential to deliver a historic victory for English golf. However, the course's challenges and the presence of other top players like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy mean that the competition will be fierce. Only time will tell if Fitzpatrick can rise to the occasion and etch his name in the history books.
