SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Ahead of this week’s 2026 WM Phoenix Open, Matt Fitzpatrick made an appearance at nearby Westin Kierland Golf Club for a Troon meet-and-greet. The LPGA’s Jennifer Kupcho was introduced as the newest member of Team Troon and the two engaged in a Q&A with those in attendance on Tuesday.
The inevitable Ryder Cup question came up and Fitzpatrick couldn’t help but display a wide smile and say how great it was to beat the Americans on their home soil last September. The wise crack went over like a lead balloon to the partisan crowd, but it was all in good fun.
Matt Fitzpatrick tees off the 10th hole during the first round of the 2026 WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale.
Speaking of fun, Fitzpatrick had plenty of that Thursday in the first round at TPC Scottsdale. Playing in the early wave and starting on No. 10, Fitzpatrick quickly went to work, making birdie on his first two holes. Arter a pair of pars, he then ripped off five straight birdies over Nos. 13 through 17. A front-nine 29 put him 7 under and in the front of the pack.
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On his second nine, he cooled off a bit, with a birdie on the third, a lip-out, would-be birdie on the seventh and his first two bogeys of the day on the eighth and ninth holes, whic put a damper on his 6-under 65.
“It’s disappointing,” he said of his finish. “I guess the way you got to look at it is if I started bogey-bogey and you finish 6 under you come off feeling like the greatest player in the world. You got to try and reframe it I guess there. If someone would’ve said here is 6 under to start day and I can stay in bed, I would’ve snatched your hand off. I’m in a good position to start with and hopefully kick on.”
Fitzpatrick is playing this event for the fifth time and despite a missed cut a year ago, he’s track record is pretty good with his other three finishes in the top 30, including a top 10 in 2022.
Being in the early wave Thursday, he got through the rowdy section of the golf course before fans got to rowdy. Did he think that was an advantage to getting out early before fans got lost in the sauce?
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“No,” he said, smiling. “I don’t think there is any advantage there. Realistically, it’s two, three holes that will you might get a bit of abuse on, but it’s all good fun. I love this week. I played it for the last I think it’s my fifth time, so always happy to be here.”
It’ll be a different story when he plays in the afternoon on Friday, as that’s when the party at the Greenest Show on Grass kicks into high gear. The last of his two PGA Tour wins was the 2023 RBC Heritage, a string of 71 events.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: WM Phoenix Open: Matt Fitzpatrick opens in 29, signs for 6-under 65
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