x
Gary Player’s response when asked if Matt Fitzpatrick could win as many majors as Nick Faldo in 2022
Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Matt Fitzpatrick’s career really took off when he won the US Open back in 2022.

Fitzpatrick fended off Scottie Scheffler and Will Zalatoris at The Country Club at Brookline four years ago to win a major championship for the first time.

Just after Fitzpatrick’s win, Gary Player spoke about the Englishman’s hopes of emulating Sir Nick Faldo’s haul of six major championship wins.

When Matt Fitzpatrick won the US Open in 2022 he was just 28 – two years younger than Nick Faldo was when he recorded his first major victory.


Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Unfortunately for the five-time PGA Tour winner, he has been unable to add to his major tally since then.

Gary Player had words of advice for Fitzpatrick after he won the US Open, and he gave his opinion on the Englishman’s chances of winning six or more majors.

Gary Player said whether Matt Fitzpatrick could win as many majors as Nick Faldo

Player was speaking to the PA news agency back in 2022 after Fitzpatrick reigned supreme at The Country Club at Brookline.

The topic of Nick Faldo’s six major victories came up and Player made a comment about Fitzpatrick’s hopes of doing the same.

On whether Fitzpatrick can match Faldo’s haul of six majors, Player said: “Yes, it’s possible but highly unlikely he will match Nick Faldo’s record but you have to have that dream.

“It’s no more difficult to win nowadays than it was many years ago. You think the players are as good as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Raymond Floyd? No I don’t think they are as good.

“No one who plays today is anywhere near as good as Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan or Sam Snead.


Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

“There is no one who is dominating and it’s the first time I can remember you can’t pick three players and say: ‘They are the three best players’.

“You get a guy like DeChambeau coming along and getting people excited winning the US Open and then peters off.

“It’s quite exciting but it shows there is no one who is dominating.”

Fitzpatrick obviously has a long way to go if he is to even get close to matching Faldo’s major haul.

However, judging by the golf he has been playing this season, he will have every chance of doing just that.

Gary Player shared a very strong warning for Matt Fitzpatrick

Player had some strong words of advice after Fitzpatrick’s first major championship win.

“We are going through a very interesting stage in golf now,” Player told the PA news agency.


Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images

“There must be 12 major championship winners that can’t play any more. This never happened in the history of golf.

“The teaching today is the worst it has ever been and yet they have all the technology in the world.

“There are at least 12 guys who won one or two majors and, as soon as they win, for some unknown reason they go and have lessons from people who have never been in the arena and don’t know what they are talking about but are great salesmen.

“Teachers today are very good for members and juniors but when it comes to teaching a player on the tour you have to know what you are doing and most of those who are teaching have flat-ruined careers.

“Don’t see a soul. Stay away from them, absolutely.

“A lot of what they are teaching players today is such rubbish. The stuff they are teaching is poison, no wonder these guys can’t play any more. It’s very sad to see.”

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!