When Matt Fitzpatrick tees off at Aronimink on Thursday, he will chase a 107‑year English drought at the PGA Championship. The last home‑grown champion, Jim Barnes, lifted the trophy in 1916 and 1919. At 31, Fitzpatrick arrives as the most plausible challenger, having logged three wins in his last five PGA Tour starts. He enters as the sole English contender with a realistic shot at the title.

His recent run includes a runner‑up at the Players, a Valspar win and a playoff triumph over Scottie Scheffler at the RBC Heritage. Those results have pushed his earnings past $10.5m this season and placed him just behind Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young in the world rankings. Fitzpatrick says his game feels sharper than during his 2022 US Open victory.

Alex Fitzpatrick’s surge to 83rd in the world and a joint‑17th finish at the 2023 Open have added family buzz, but Matt relies on meticulous shot notes while Alex prefers a looser approach. Their contrasting styles underscore Matt’s data‑driven confidence heading into the major. With form, earnings and ranking aligning, Fitzpatrick stands as the leading English hope at Aronimink.