Matt Fitzpatrick's PGA Tour season ended Sunday after he failed to crack the top 30 in the FedEx Cup standings to advance to East Lake Golf Course for the Tour Championship.
But Fitzpatrick's season closed with some frustration beyond his own game, as he was seen ranting at a PGA Tour official during his final round Sunday at the BMW Championship.
While on the eighth hole, Fitzpatrick wanted to change his driver because the one he already had in his bag had a visible crack. However, PGA Tour officials deemed the crack in the driver head was not enough to warrant him changing to a new one.
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Matt Fitzpatrick of England plays his shot from the seventh tee during the final round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind on August 18, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Fitzpatrick had to tee off with his faulty driver, which went low and wide of his face after hitting the ball. Fitzpatrick said the ball went 50 yards shorter than it had been during the day.
At the time, Fitzpatrick was tied for 30th at 2 under par, but finished tied for 28th at 1 under par in the tournament.
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“There's an obvious crack there that's causing a defect in the flight of the ball,” Fitzpatrick was heard telling an official after hitting his driver on the eighth hole.
“We said no,” the official told Fitzpatrick.
“So I'm going to have to wear the 3-stick for the rest of the day?” Fitzpatrick replied. “Is that what you're telling me? … This is outrageous.”
Once the official received confirmation that the PGA Tour was not allowing Fitzpatrick to change the head on his driver, he called it an “absolute joke” and the official returned his club.
Matt Fitzpatrick of England plays a shot on the first hole during the second round of the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club on August 23, 2024 in Castle Rock, Colorado. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
“In our assessment, not just with the first umpire but with a couple of others, including myself, that threshold of significant damage had not been met significantly,” PGA Tour head umpire Stephen Cox told Golf Digest.
“Even though there was a hairline crack on the face, there was no metal separation and based on that, that threshold was not met. So his only option in that case was to continue using that club. Now, if that club got worse, obviously we would continue to evaluate it and at that point he could have taken it out. But in his case, I think he decided not to continue using it and continued with his 3-wood from that point on.”
During the live broadcast of the PGA Tour event, Kevin Kisner was heard calling the decision “terrible” and believed Fitzpatrick took the tee shot on the eighth to show that his clubhead was affecting the flight of his ball.
Because of Fitzpatrick's position at Castle Pines Golf Club in Douglas County, Colorado, the British pro was left out of the Tour Championship, which offers a $25 million prize pool for the 30 golfers who participate. The golfer who finishes last at East Lake will receive $550,000.
Matt Fitzpatrick of England walks onto the first green during the first round of the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club on August 22, 2024 in Castle Rock, Colorado. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Fitzpatrick finished 40th in FedEx Cup points this year, earning three top-10 finishes and no wins this season.
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