‘Just Stopped His Hands’: Matt Fitzpatrick Shares a Valuable Tip Golf Legend Jack Nicklaus Gave Him Before 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions

Jack Nicklaus is an inspiration to numerous young golfers today. And it was clearly seen in the Sentry Tournament of Champions as Matt Fitzpatrick did something he learned from the golf great. He also shared how Nicklaus’ advice and playing style helped him to be in contention to win the first PGA Tour event of 2023 ahead of the final round.

Let’s take a look at what tip did the 18-time Major winner give to the 2022 US Open winner.

Matt Fitzpatrick credits Jack Nicklaus for his recent performance on the field

Fitzpatrick is currently tied for second with Collin Morikawa and JJ Spaun. The golf star has been playing amazing shots on the field this season. And he has no hesitation in giving all the credit for his wonderful performance to golf legend Jack Nicklaus.

Nicklaus didn’t take much time to applaud Fitzpatrick on Twitter for his victory at the U.S. Open at The Country Club last June. “One of the greatest rounds of golf I have ever seen on a final day of the US Open,” Nicklaus wrote. And ever since his appreciation, things have been developing between the two.

Fitzpatrick visited Nicklaus several times at Florida’s The Bear’s Club in January 2022. The golf legend also needled the young English golfer after he won a member-member at the club. And after Fitzpatrick won the US Open, he proudly said, “I can go back to him (Nicklaus) now and say I’ve won twice.”

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It is not very common for players from two different generations to bond so well. And Nicklaus’ teachings are still proving to be helpful for the golfer as he moves ahead in the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii. After scoring a seven-under-par 66 at Kapalua on Saturday, he mentioned one of the reasons behind the successful week.

Fitzpatrick added eight grams into his club’s grip to make a small difference in his shots on Nicklaus’ advice. According to him, the small change “felt a little more comfortable out there”. Further explaining how it affected his game, he added, “He just said that he did it because it just stopped his hands over rotating it. … In my terms, I guess it would be felt more held off. So, I think that’s obviously what suited him.”

The golfer explained how he had some amazing conversations with Nicklaus during his numerous lunches with him in Jupiter, Fla. “We were just chatting about life and golf and stuff,” he said.“For me, growing up, it’s a dream to be able to talk to someone like that, let alone one of the greatest, if not the greatest, to play the game.” 

It has been going well for the golfer so far. However, even if he achieves as much as he did last year, it won’t be that bad!

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