I’ve Eclipsed Golden Period: Why Matt Fitzpatrick is the Man to End England’s 107-Year US PGA Curse

In the rarefied air of major championship golf, history can feel like an anchor. For Englishmen, the US PGA Championship has been a ghost ship for over a century. Jim Barnes, a Cornish-born pioneer, hoisted the Wanamaker Trophy in 1916 and again in 1919. Since then? A void. No English player has touched the silver. But as the PGA Tour descends on Aronimink Golf Club this week, a 31-year-old from Sheffield is walking onto the first tee with a swagger that suggests the statute of limitations on that drought is about to expire.

Matt Fitzpatrick is not just playing well. He is playing at a level that he himself describes as having “eclipsed my golden period.” That golden period, of course, was the summer of 2022, when he outdueled Will Zalatoris and Scottie Scheffler to win the US Open at The Country Club in Brookline. It was a masterpiece of precision, nerve, and grit. But what Fitzpatrick is doing right now, in the early months of 2026, is rewriting the script of his own career. He is no longer just a former major champion. He is the best-placed Englishman to end a 107-year wait for a winner at the US PGA Championship.

The Numbers Don’t Lie: A Career-Best Start

Let’s talk about the math. In his first five starts of the 2026 PGA Tour season, Matt Fitzpatrick has done something he has never done before: he has won three times. The bank balance is staggering—more than $10.5 million (£7.8 million) already earned. That is not just a hot streak; that is a seismic shift in consistency and finishing power.

Consider the following data points from his 2026 campaign:

• Three wins in five starts – a victory rate of 60%, unheard of in the modern era outside of prime Tiger Woods or peak Rory McIlroy.
• Scoring average under 68.5 – his ball-striking numbers have climbed to elite levels, particularly with his long irons.
• Strokes Gained: Approach – currently ranked No. 1 on the PGA Tour, a metric that often predicts major success.
• Putting inside 10 feet – a career-high conversion rate, erasing the one weakness that previously kept him from dominating.

When Fitzpatrick says he has “eclipsed” his Brookline form, he is not being hyperbolic. He is stating a statistical fact. The 2022 US Open champion was a master of the short game and a brilliant scrambler. The 2026 version of Matt Fitzpatrick is a complete, intimidating force. He is driving the ball longer, hitting more greens, and holing putts that used to slide by. This is the version of Fitzpatrick that can handle the test of Aronimink.

Aronimink: A Course Built for Fitzpatrick’s Precision

Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, is not a bomber’s paradise. It is a classic William Flynn design—tree-lined, undulating, and demanding of strategic accuracy. The fairways are narrow. The rough is thick, bluegrass that will grab a wayward drive and refuse to let go. The greens are small, contoured, and lightning fast.

This is a golf course that rewards the exact skill set that Fitzpatrick has honed to a razor’s edge. He is not a 340-yard driver, but he doesn’t need to be. His weapon is his iron play, specifically his ability to flight the ball low under the wind and stop it on a dime. At Aronimink, where approach shots must be precise to avoid three-putts, Fitzpatrick’s control of his trajectory will be a decisive advantage.

Furthermore, the course demands a strong short game. The greenside bunkers are deep and penal. Fitzpatrick, who grew up learning to scramble on the links-style courses of Yorkshire, has always been a wizard from the sand. His up-and-down percentage from bunkers in 2026 is hovering near 70%. That is a number that wins majors.

Prediction: Look for Fitzpatrick to lean heavily on his 4-iron and 5-iron off the tee to keep the ball in play. He will sacrifice 20 yards to avoid the rough, and then rely on his approach game to attack pins. This is his blueprint for victory.

The English Curse: Why Fitzpatrick is Different

Let’s address the elephant in the room. The US PGA Championship has been a graveyard for English hopes. Since Jim Barnes won back-to-back titles over a century ago, the list of English near-misses is long and painful. Nick Faldo finished runner-up in 1992. Luke Donald came close. Justin Rose had his chances. But no one has closed the deal.

Why? The US PGA Championship is often the most chaotic of the four majors. It is held in August (historically), on courses that vary wildly from year to year. The field is the strongest of any major, because it includes every PGA Tour winner from the past year. It requires a player who can adapt quickly, handle pressure, and win on a course he may have never seen before.

Matt Fitzpatrick is uniquely suited to this challenge for three reasons:

• Major pedigree: He already has a US Open title. He knows how to win when the stakes are highest. The fear of failure that haunts many English players in this event does not apply to him.
• Course adaptability: Fitzpatrick is a student of the game. He studies course architecture. He has already played practice rounds at Aronimink, mapping out his zones and identifying the pin positions that will yield birdies.
• Mental fortitude: Since his win at Brookline, Fitzpatrick has developed a cold, calculating demeanor on the course. He does not get flustered by bad breaks. He grinds. That is the exact mentality needed to survive a US PGA Sunday.

When you combine his current form with his skill set for this specific venue, it becomes clear: Fitzpatrick is not just a contender. He is the favorite.

Expert Analysis: The Road to the Wanamaker Trophy

To win the US PGA Championship, a player must navigate four rounds of relentless pressure. The final round on Sunday is where champions are separated from contenders. For Fitzpatrick, the key will be his start on Thursday. A poor opening round can be fatal at Aronimink, where the scoring average is expected to be above par.

Key factors for Fitzpatrick’s success:

• Driving accuracy: He must hit at least 75% of fairways. If he finds the rough, his chances of attacking the small greens drop dramatically.
• Patience on the par-5s: Aronimink has four reachable par-5s, but they are guarded by water and bunkers. Fitzpatrick must avoid the temptation to go for every green in two. A birdie is good; a bogey is a disaster.
• Putting on sloping greens: The greens at Aronimink have subtle breaks that can fool even the best putters. Fitzpatrick’s recent improvement in putting from 15-20 feet will be critical.

Prediction: I see Fitzpatrick opening with a solid 68, grinding through a difficult Friday to make the cut comfortably, and then surging on the weekend. By Sunday afternoon, he will be in the final group. The question is whether he can hold off the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, and Rory McIlroy. Based on his current trajectory, I believe he can. His iron play is too sharp, his confidence too high.

There is one more factor: history. Fitzpatrick has spoken openly about the 107-year drought. He does not shy away from it. He embraces it. In a recent press conference, he said, “I’ve eclipsed golden period. I feel like I am a better player now than when I won at Brookline. That gives me a lot of belief.” That belief is contagious. It will carry him through the tough moments.

Conclusion: A New Chapter for English Golf

The US PGA Championship has been an English wasteland for 107 years. Jim Barnes’s ghost has haunted every English player who has stepped onto the first tee. But ghosts have a way of being exorcised when the right player comes along at the right time.

Matt Fitzpatrick is that player. He is playing the best golf of his life, on a course that rewards his strengths, with a major champion’s mindset. The numbers are undeniable: three wins in five starts, $10.5 million banked, and a scoring average that rivals the best in the world. He has already eclipsed his golden period. Now, he has a chance to eclipse history.

When Fitzpatrick walks onto the first tee at Aronimink on Thursday, he will carry the weight of a nation. But he will also carry the confidence of a man who knows he is ready. The wait for an English winner at the US PGA Championship is about to end. The name on the Wanamaker Trophy will read: Matthew Fitzpatrick, Sheffield, England.

Book it.

Source: Based on news from BBC Sport.