Golf: Sheffield's Matt Fitzpatrick books his place at Ryder Cup

Matt Fitzpatrick has booked his place at the Ryder Cup

A fifth placed finish, ten under-par, in the Czech Masters after Thomas Pieters failed to win the competition as he needed to, means Fitzpatrick becomes the youngest Englishman to qualify for the Ryder Cup for three decades.

Fitzpatrick edged into the qualification places following victory in the British Masters in October and has managed to stay there ever since.

Now the 21 year-old Hallamshire Golf starlet can look forward to taking on the best of the US at Hazeltine at the end of next month.

“It’s very exciting now,” he said. “We can look forward to it and get my game in shape. “I’ve probably been in the team for the longest period of time.

“It started a few weeks before I won at the British Masters and jumped into the team and I’ve managed to stay there since then. It’s been absolutely phenomenal and I’m just delighted to be in the team.

“It’s a great opportunity, I’ve got my first one coming up and hopefully I can just keep pushing on my game and getting better.

Matt Fitzpatrick (2nd right) with his family after winning the British Masters at Woburn in October

“It’s just happened so fast it’s difficult for it to sink in. At the start of this year it had a dip but I’ve just got to keep working hard and see what happens.

“It’s something that since you turn pro you don’t really have much of, so to be part of that, only once every two years, it’s going to be special.”