U.S Open: Q&A with Rolex Testimonee Matt Fitzpatrick 11:35, 09/06/2023

Rolex Testimonee Matt Fitzpatrick biography

• Mr. Fitzpatrick’s association with Rolex began in 2016

• Fitzpatrick turned professional in 2014 after the U.S. Open at Pinehurst, North Carolina

• After winning the 2013 U.S. Amateur, Fitzpatrick rose to No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking and later won his first professional tournament at the 2015 British Masters at Woburn Golf Club

• In November 2016, Fitzpatrick won the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai. He repeated the feat in 2020 by winning the tournament for the second time. This win also marked his first Rolex Series title

• In September 2021, Fitzpatrick played on the European team at The Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin. He also played in the 2016 Ryder Cup at the Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota

• In June 2022, Fitzpatrick won his first Major championship and his first PGA Tour event at the U.S. Open, with a one-shot victory at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts - the same venue where he won the U.S. Amateur in 2013

• With this victory, Fitzpatrick joined fellow Rolex Testimonee Jack Nicklaus as the second male golfer to win a U.S. Open and a U.S. Amateur title at the same venue

• Fitzpatrick was the first English winner of the U.S. Amateur since Harold Hilton in 1911

• Fitzpatrick has represented Europe at two Ryder Cups in 2016, and 2020

Q&A with Rolex Testimonee Matt Fitzpatrick

Q: For more than 50 years Rolex has developed this amazing enduring partnership with golf. It is one of the most successful between a brand and a sport. Can you tell us about your relationship with Rolex? When and how it came about, and what it means to you?

Matt Fitzpatrick (MF): I first met with Rolex in 2015. Rolex has always been a phenomenal brand. Everyone knows the name so for me to have the chance to partner with them was something so exciting that I wanted to finalize as quick as possible. I just absolutely wanted to be associated with Rolex. I have been a Rolex Testimonee ever since the deal was finalized in 2016 and I am extremely proud to have the relationship that I do with such a prestigious brand.

Q: What are your overall thoughts about Rolex’s longstanding support of golf? What does that mean to you from a player’s point of view, and at all the tournaments?

MF: Rolex’s longstanding support of golf is just fantastic. The support that has been shown by Rolex to the DP World Tour, among other professional tours, has been incredible. Ever since I have been out here, I see the iconic Rolex clock’s everywhere, Rolex staff onsite and the hospitality is second to none. Rolex’s quality is there for all to see and the brand has played a core role in the development and growth of our sport globally.

Q: Which of your Rolex watches holds the most significance to you?

MF: I love every single Rolex watch that I have and I am incredibly fortunate to have the collection that I do. The first one that I received was the Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona in Platinum – this watch is probably my favourite one. I always said that when I signed with Rolex, I wanted my first watch to be my most special. My Submariner is my staple one; the one that I can wear anywhere and every day. I actually ordered one before the U.S. Open this year. I ordered the GMT-Master II with the meteorite dial, which is basically red, white and blue and coincides with my victory at the U.S. Open shortly after. I’d say those are my top three!

Q: How did it feel to win and claim your first Major at the U.S. Open in June 2022, nine years after winning the 2013 U.S. Amateur on the same course – a feat that has only been achieved by one other player, fellow Rolex Testimonee and legend of the game, Jack Nicklaus?

MF: To win my first Major at the U.S. Open in June 2022 on the same course that I won the 2013 U.S. Amateur meant the world. It holds a very special place for me and my family to have done it there, and just everything about that week was incredible. To be mentioned in the same sentence as and share this achievement with Jack Nicklaus is also very special. It is difficult to put into words how much that win at The Country Club, Brookline meant and how amazing it all was. It was just truly incredible.

Q: How does it feel to have joined the exclusive group of Rolex Testimonees who have etched their name on the trophy – including Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth? Did any of their past wins at this Championship inspire you?

MF: To be honest, I never really watched much golf when I was younger but one win that does stand out is Tiger Woods’ victory at Torrey Pines in 2008. His performance that year really stands out of all the wins in U.S. Open history.

Q: You have the opportunity to become the first Englishman to win back-toback U.S. Open titles and forever etch your name in the tournament’s history books. Can you tell us about this and how excited you are to return, and for the tournament’s first time in Los Angeles?

MF: I am really looking forward to the U.S. Open in Los Angeles. I have played at the Los Angeles Country Club once before and thought it was a great golf course. I am sure it will be in great shape. I am excited by the challenge of defending my title. Hopefully, I will play well and become the only Englishman to defend the U.S. Open. That would be an amazing title to have.

Q: How familiar are you with Los Angeles Country Club and what aspects of the course are you excited to play?

MF: Despite having played there once before, I could not tell you exactly as it was a while ago. That being said, it definitely is a different type of golf course to what is usually seen at the U.S. Open. From what I remember, it tends to be a bit wider and open off the tee, and the greens are often a little bit bigger than the normal so it will be interesting and a real test for us.

Q: Will your preparation be any different for the 2023 tournament returning as the defending champion?

MF: No, I will try and do the same sort of preparation. We tend to have a plan and stick to that. There is no point trying to add new things in there and trying to change anything. We try not to get too specific with everything or get too worked up about it.

Q: When you won in June 2022, you were gifted a special Rolex watch. Can you tell us about this watch and does it have any engravings on it? If you were to win again in 2023, what would you choose to have engraved on the Rolex watch?

MF: I had the U.S. Open trophy engraved on my watch and I would do the same again or I may get two trophies engraved on the next one. I think that it is these engravings that make the watches that much more special. I am incredibly appreciative of Rolex and the USGA for allowing me to do that. It will be forever take me back to the U.S. Open whenever I wear it or look at it.

Q: Who has been the biggest influence on your golf career?

MF: I would say my dad as I have learnt so much from him. He is not a high-level golfer but he is a very smart man. I have taken a lot from him. He is very analytical and I am now very analytical myself. He has shaped me into the person that I am today so I owe a lot to him and it is great to have him supporting at these tournaments.

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you have been given either from your dad, or potentially from a legend of the game?

MF: For me, it was to work hard but also smartly. It is very easy to hit a million balls on the range and stand there all day hitting at the same target but that is only going to benefit you so much. You have to incorporate all sorts of different things into your practice, game and routine. It is so important to work hard at your game or in any aspect of your life to get the results wanted. I really believe that if you work hard, you will get there in the end.

Q: What are your goals and expectations going into 2023?

MF: My main goal is to win another Major. I definitely want to achieve that and also to become World No. 1. Those are my targets for 2023 but we shall see how it goes.

Q: What would you tell your younger self back in 2014 when you first turned professional?

MF: I would advise him to do what I did in 2019 sooner. That year, I got a performance coach and it elevated my game. In 2015, I wrote down this blueprint of how I should practice and how I should monitor things. I followed this blueprint from 2019 onwards but I was just too nervous to do so beforehand. My advice would be along the lines of performance practice, as well as just trying to enjoy the process and journey without getting overly worked up about it. Obviously, it is easier saying this whilst I am not under the pressure of playing.

Q: You get to play on some of the best courses in the world. What is your favourite course and why?

MF: My favourite golf course to play during a tournament is Augusta National. It just has that history and is very special. I love going there every year.

Q: Which is the greatest shot of your career?

MF: Nine iron out of the bunker, 18th hole, U.S. Open 2022!

About Rolex and golf

Rolex is committed to the permanent quest for excellence in all its endeavours and has been a long-term supporter of golf in its pursuit of the same. The brand’s enduring relationship with the sport began more than 50 years ago, in 1967, when Arnold Palmer, joined by Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, became the brand’s first golfing Testimonees. Known together as The Big Three, these legendary players changed the face of golf forever, and their partnership with Rolex marked the beginning of a relationship based on the shared commitment to continuous improvement and unwavering precision. Since then, the affiliation has grown and flourished, permeating every level of the game worldwide. From elite players and golf legends to all the game’s Major championships, where success represents the pinnacle of achievement in the sport, as well as the foremost professional tours and worldwide amateur championships, Rolex is ever-present.

In 2021 Rolex further deepened its support by becoming a Worldwide Partner of The Ryder Cup, to act as Official Timekeeper at every iteration of the sport’s pre-eminent team competition. The Swiss manufacturer’s support for the game is built on a strong sense of integrity and respect for tradition that promote the continuity of expertise and transfer of knowledge, and an understanding of the importance of investing in the sport’s development for future generations.

About Rolex

An unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise Rolex is an integrated and independent Swiss watch manufacture. Headquartered in Geneva, the brand is recognized the world over for its expertise and the quality of its products – symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. The movements of its Oyster Perpetual and Cellini watches are certified by COSC, then tested in-house for their precision, performance and reliability. The Superlative Chronometer certification, symbolized by the green seal, confirms that each watch has successfully undergone tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria. These are periodically validated by an independent external organization.

The word “Perpetual” is inscribed on every Rolex Oyster watch. But more than just a word on a dial, it is a philosophy that embodies the company’s vision and values. Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of the company, instilled a notion of perpetual excellence that would drive the company forward. This led Rolex to pioneer the development of the wristwatch and numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor selfwinding mechanism, invented in 1931. In the course of its history, Rolex has registered over 500 patents. At its four sites in Switzerland, the brand designs, develops and produces the majority of its watch components, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Furthermore, the brand is actively involved in supporting the arts and culture, sport and exploration, as well as those who are devising solutions to preserve the planet.