Analysis
Fitzpatrick hails career-best form as he tops Europe's Ryder Cup race
Four wins, close to $29 million in prize money and first place in the European qualifying standings: Matt Fitzpatrick says this is the best golf of his life. The majors are the missing piece.
Two days after his three-shot win in the FedEx Open de France, Matt Fitzpatrick told Sky Sports: “This is the best period of golf I’ve played for sure.” He has four wins this year, close to $29 million in prize money and first place in Europe’s Ryder Cup standings, but no major top 10.
Paris followed wins at the Valspar Championship, the RBC Heritage and the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, where he partnered his brother Alex. According to Golf Monthly, his prize money this year comes to roughly $28.96 million, including $13 million for finishing second in the FedExCup, $3.6 million for the Heritage and $2.725 million for finishing runner-up at The Players. Golf Monthly says that single season would put him 67th on the PGA TOUR’s all-time career money list, ahead of the career totals of Fred Couples and David Duval.
He is world No. 4, having climbed as high as third earlier in the year. Sky Sports reports that a strong week at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which starts on Thursday, could lift him to No. 2.
The win in France also took him to the top of the qualifying race for Luke Donald’s 2027 Ryder Cup team at Adare Manor. Golfmagic’s standings have him on 306.1 points, ahead of Joe Dean (292.25) and Shane Lowry (271.9). Qualifying began at the 2026 British Masters and runs until 22 August 2027, and majors and the biggest events carry far more points than a regular tour stop.
Fitzpatrick told Sky Sports he contended often in the 2026 majors but did not finish higher than 14th in any of the four.
He won the Dunhill Links in 2023 with his mother Sue as his amateur partner, and this week he plays with his father Russell across the Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. Robert MacIntyre defends the title, and Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed is out injured.
Sources
- Sky Sports: Matt Fitzpatrick on Open de France victory, his best period of golf ever and Dunhill Links hopes
- Golf Monthly: The extraordinary amount of prize money Matt Fitzpatrick has won in 2026
- Golfmagic: European Ryder Cup standings 2027
- DP World Tour: Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, five things to know
Spotted an error? Tell us and we will fix it. Our editorial standards.
