Fitzpatrick relishing US PGA's 'brute of course'

The East Course has undergone many changes since it last hosted this tournament in 2013.

In Summary

• The world number seven comes into this championship in good form having won the PGA Tour's RBC Heritage title last month.

• Fitzpatrick will play with world number one and reigning Masters champion Jon Rahm and Australia's Cameron Smith

Matthew Fitzpatrick poses with the trophy after winning the US Open golf tournament
Matthew Fitzpatrick poses with the trophy after winning the US Open golf tournament
Image: /FILE

US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick is looking forward to tackling a "brute of a golf course" at Oak Hill when the US PGA Championship starts on Thursday.

The East Course has undergone many changes since it last hosted this tournament in 2013 and is now a 7,394-yard, par-70 track which features two par fives of more than 600 yards.

"There are so many tough holes, it's a proper test," said the Englishman.

"I like it when it's hard and you've got to battle and par is a good score."

The world number seven comes into this championship in good form having won the PGA Tour's RBC Heritage title last month.

He added: "It reminds me a lot of Winged Foot when we played [the 2020 US Open] because when you missed the fairways there, it was just chipping out.

"I've said it multiple times, I hate it when tournaments are 25, 30 under par to win.

"I don't particularly feel like I play well in those."

Fitzpatrick played in the final group in last year's US PGA, eventually finishing joint fifth, before going on to win the US Open a month later.

"I think that final round [in the US PGA at Southern Hills] there was a lot of talk about me playing a little bit too fast, looking a bit rushed," said the 28-year-old.

"Obviously at the time you don't see that and I didn't get much time to reflect on it. But when the time came on Sunday of the US Open I felt like I knew exactly what to do.

"Statistically I didn't even putt that well that week, so if I can play the same way again and putt as well as I know I can, then that's also another level that I can add to my performance.

"That's a big thing for me. I know I can contend and win."

Fitzpatrick will play with world number one and reigning Masters champion Jon Rahm and Australia's Cameron Smith, winner of last year's Open Championship, in the opening two rounds at Oak Hill Country Club in upstate New York.