Alex Fitzpatrick had a different destination in mind this week—Turkey, to be exact—but a last-minute change of plans has landed him right in the thick of the action at Doral’s Cadillac Championship. And honestly? He wouldn’t have it any other way.
Just one week after teaming up with his older brother, Matt, to win the Zurich Classic—a victory that earned him his PGA Tour membership—Fitzpatrick is riding a wave of momentum. On Friday, he carded a flawless, bogey-free 6-under 66, bringing him to 6-under for the tournament at the iconic Trump International Doral. Not bad for a guy who thought he’d be teeing it up on the DP World Tour this week.
“The text messages have slowed down, but the overwhelming feeling of joy and happiness hasn’t gone away,” Fitzpatrick said. “This year is going to be a whirlwind, and no matter what happens, it’s already a success. I can’t believe how many people—players, caddies, staff—have come up to congratulate me. It’s been incredible.”
The 25-year-old Englishman had a Sunday night flight booked from New Orleans to Turkey for what was supposed to be his next DP World Tour stop. But after clinching that life-changing win alongside his brother, he quickly rerouted to Miami to prepare for his first-ever $20 million signature event on the PGA Tour. He’s described the week as “the first day of school,” and so far, the report card is looking sharp.
After a roller-coaster opening round of even-par 72—featuring five birdies and five bogeys—Fitzpatrick found his rhythm on Friday with six birdies and zero mistakes. It’s the kind of steady, confident play that’s been brewing for months, even if the results didn’t always show it.
“The nice thing is, it feels like I’m doing the right things with my golf game,” Fitzpatrick said. “I’ve been working toward the right things. My game has been good for a while, but for a few months it wasn’t translating on the course like I wanted. The past two months, it’s really turned a corner. I feel in control of my ball, which is nice. So hopefully I keep hitting fairways and greens, and we’ll see what happens this weekend.”
For fans of the game—and especially those who love a good underdog story—Fitzpatrick’s rise is one to watch. Whether you’re tracking his progress from the couch or gearing up for your own weekend round, his journey is a reminder that sometimes the best plans are the ones you never saw coming.