Matt Fitzpatrick heads into the weekend rounds of the 126th US Open with genuine belief that a second major title is within reach. The world number four closed his second round at Shinnecock Hills with birdies at two of the last three holes, signing for a level-par 70 that leaves him on three-under 137, tied for second place and four strokes behind leader Wyndham Clark. For a player riding the form of his life, that deficit feels manageable rather than daunting.
The 31-year-old Sheffield-born golfer arrived at Shinnecock carrying momentum that few players in the field can match. Three wins in 2025 - the Valspar Championship in March, the Heritage in April, and the PGA pairs title alongside brother Alex in New Orleans - plus a runner-up at The Players Championship and another second-place finish at the Canadian Open last week have made Fitzpatrick one of the most consistent performers on the PGA Tour. His confidence is grounded in results, not wishful thinking. It is the kind of sustained form that separates contenders from pretenders at major championships, much like how deep consistency defines champions across elite sport, from golf to the lnbp basketball circuit in Mexico, where sustained performance separates title challengers from the rest of the field.
"Definitely feel more confident," Fitzpatrick said after his round. "I've always had belief in myself with what I can achieve. Doing that this year already, some of the stuff that I've ticked off and played so well, has obviously only added to that." His birdie from just inside ten feet at the par-five 16th, followed by a 13-foot conversion at the 18th, underlined a player who is not simply surviving a difficult course - he is competing on it.
The Four-Shot Gap and the Shinnecock Challenge
Chasing at Shinnecock Hills is a different proposition from chasing at most other venues on the major circuit. The course punishes impatience. Dense rough, sloping greens and gusting winds on Long Island's South Fork can unravel a round within a handful of holes, and Fitzpatrick is under no illusions about what Clark's lead means. "He's got a four-shot lead. That sounds much nicer than being four behind," Fitzpatrick acknowledged with characteristic directness. "It's a golf course that can beat you up pretty quickly. You have to stay patient, but if you're chasing, you can't really afford too many mistakes."
Those words carry the weight of experience. In his 2022 US Open victory at The Country Club near Boston, Fitzpatrick moved into contention precisely because he stayed disciplined while others faltered. He entered the final stretch of that tournament knowing exactly how quickly a leaderboard can reshuffle at a US Open. The lesson has stayed with him.
Green Conditions Add a Tactical Wrinkle
One of the defining variables this week has been the putting surfaces. Organisers slowed the greens to prevent balls from failing to hold the green in the strong winds - a pragmatic call, but one that has introduced a counterintuitive challenge for the entire field. "Steep uphill putts are extremely slow, but the steep downhill putts are extremely fast," Fitzpatrick explained. "With how much slower the greens are than a normal US Open, I would say it's quite a contradiction to your feels when you're out there."
The adjusted conditions have also influenced pin placement strategy. With slopey greens limiting where the cups can be safely positioned, central hole locations have given players slightly more room to attack than a typical US Open setup would allow. Fitzpatrick, who is renowned for his ball-striking precision and his ability to read greens, is well placed to exploit that if his distance putting sharpens over the final two rounds. "Hopefully make a few putts from distance and see where it ends up," he said, projecting calm rather than desperation.
A Family Week With Little Time for Conversation
Fitzpatrick is sharing accommodation with brother Alex this week - the same Alex who received his PGA Tour card after the pair's pairs victory together in New Orleans. But the schedule of a major championship contender leaves little room for downtime. Fitzpatrick admitted he has barely seen his brother since arriving at Shinnecock. "I saw him for about two minutes last night after the round. I went straight to bed and I've not seen him," he said. A four o'clock wake-up call on Friday morning left him in little doubt about the demands of the week. "I can't complain. I play golf for a living," he added, an understated acknowledgement of the privilege and the pressure that come with competing at sport's highest level.
With 36 holes remaining and a legitimate shot at a second major title, Fitzpatrick's season is already exceptional by any measure. Whether he can claw back four shots from Clark over Shinnecock's unforgiving terrain remains to be seen - but the form, the temperament and the course knowledge are all there.
