Matt Fitzpatrick opens up on how Michael Jordan’s advice altered his golf practice

Fitzpatrick has logged every shot he has hit since he was 15. That commitment to detail has not just shaped his routine, it has helped carry him to a major title and two PGA Tour wins so far in his career.

Still, even the most established habits can evolve. Fitzpatrick found that out through advice from outside golf, picking up valuable lessons from Jordan on how to approach the mental side of practice.

“I have not spent a lot of time with him but I’m a member of his club in Florida and the guy who coaches him has learnt a lot off Michael and he’s shared some of that with me,” he began by saying on the High Performance Podcast.

“His big thing was practicing with intensity. It’s like every shot matters. That is one thing we have tried to add in to practice away from tournaments. It’s harder at tournaments because you only really have the range.

“But [away from tournaments] we can create the intensity by saying if you don’t complete it, start again. And then if you don’t complete it again, start again.

“It’s things like that that I think were so big for him and that’s what I have been told by the coach at the Grove, Darren May, and I think that’s a fantastic lesson. That every shot has an intention and it’s intense and there’s a consequence to it.

“I think it’s hard to have that in golf because it’s easy to just drag another ball out and start again but if you have only got five shots, you need to hit it here the first one, if you don’t you are done. It’s having those things, like a task that has a consequence.”

Matt Fitzpatrick looks to build on Ryder Cup performance

Fitzpatrick went into the Ryder Cup with some doubts hanging over him. Luke Donald had challenged him to step up his form towards the end of the 2025 season, and while he did respond, his record in the event was still just one point from three appearances before this year.

However, Fitzpatrick delivered for Team Europe at Bethpage Black. He finished with a 3-1-1 record, picking up a crucial half-point against Bryson DeChambeau in singles and contributing wins in both foursomes and fourball.

Statistically, the one-time major champion was one of Europe’s top performers. He finished third on the team in strokes gained at +4.59 and ranked second both in approach play and tee-to-green performance.

It was a strong showing that matched his pre-tournament form, and now Fitzpatrick will be looking to carry that momentum into 2026.