2021 AT&T Byron Nelson: Top 10 picks at TPC Craig Ranch

Don’t look now, but Matthew Fitzpatrick is quietly having a stellar year. The Englishman did not have a great 2020. But really, how many of us did?

It had to be particularly tough for non-Americans playing on the PGA Tour in the U.S. last year given the circumstances. Things are inching closer to normal, and a more regimented routine and schedule for Fitzpatrick is serving him well.

The 26-year-old ended 2020 by winning the European Tour’s Race to Dubai closing event, the DP World Tour Championship.

Fitzpatrick missed his first cut of 2021 but it’s been off to the races since. The former Northwestern Wildcat posted four straight top-11s at one point, all coming at either an elevated status event, a World Golf Championship or the Players Championship.

He was a sudden death playoff away from advancing to the bracket stage at the WGC-Match Play. Fitzy posted a respectable T-34th at the Masters and was T-4th in his last event, the RBC Heritage.

Three weeks off to recharge for the upcoming PGA Championship comes at a good time. It allowed him to watch his younger brother, Alex, compete at the Walker Cup last week at Seminole in Florida.

That should stir up the competitive juices for an important stretch of golf that will likely culminate in a Ryder Cup appearance in the fall.

Fitzpatrick is a short hitter but makes up for it with deadly accuracy. He’s 18th in strokes gained off the tee (.516) thanks largely to sitting 15th in fairways hit (68.53%). It’s rare for a sub-30 hitter to be in the top 20 in this strokes gained category.

Elsewhere he has no glaring weaknesses as he’s 71st or better in the other SG categories.

I’m not so sure TPC Craig Ranch is Fitz’ ideal fit, but he’s rolling along well enough to pick up another top-10.