Dubai: Matt Fitzpatrick can finally move out of his mum and dad’s house in Sheffield after pocketing €1.25 million (Dh4.8 million) for winning the DP World Tour Championship by a stroke at 17 under par on Sunday.
Aged 22 and 80 days, the Yorkshireman became the youngest winner of the European Tour’s season-ending event at Jumeirah Golf Estates beating previous record holder Rory McIlroy, who was 23 years and 205 days when he won here back in 2012.
This is his third victory in 65 appearances since professional in 2014, and makes him the youngest Englishman to win three events since Nick Faldo.
So will he finally fly the nest after striking it rich?
“I don’t know,” he said. “This week’s helped [speed up] moving out. But I’m not in any rush.
“I just want to make sure I find the right place first and I’m actually looking at buying in America, rather than England.
“I’m going to look at a few places in three weeks in Florida, so I’ll get a bit of a feel.
“My mum and dad actually spoke to Rory this week and he said he would give me a hand with contacts over there. He did the same thing that I’m planning to do, which is rent at the start, get a feel for the place and then maybe pick a place then.”
With America in mind it’s obvious that Fitzpatrick is looking to play more in the States.
“I’d love to play more on the PGA Tour eventually. I don’t want to rush it. I think now winning this, I get a five year exemption [on the European Tour] so that gives me three years at least to really push for my PGA Tour card.
“I won’t just abandon the European Tour, it will always be the main tour I play on, but three years gives me a good opportunity, I feel.”
Asked if his parents wanted him out the house, he replied: “My dad maybe, but my mum certainly doesn’t.”
Ironically, Sunday’s DP World Tour Championship win came two years to the day that he first got his tour card, and he admitted that it was hard to get his head around his ascent.
“Two years ago I was just happy to get on tour and now I’ve won the final event of the year. When I think about it, it’s crazy. And to get my third win at 22, it’s a very fast rise, but obviously this isn’t always going to be the case. You’ve got to take the highs while you can and just keep working hard when it’s not going your way.
“But now I feel with this win, it gives me confidence to push further. Hopefully I can just keep working hard, doing the right things and see what we can do next year.”
He also acknowledged that a large part of his progress had been thanks to sponsors Golf in Dubai.
“I turned pro with no status or anything like that and they backed me from the start. They have been my sponsors for two and a half years now, and they have been fantastic. I’ve had invites to every Omega Dubai Desert Classic and played a few Mena Tour events and they have just been brilliant.
“Obviously I’m really appreciative of their support and help and I hope that I’ve been a decent ambassador.”
