'Listen, the crowd, that was literally child's play compared to Bethpage' - Fitzpatrick won’t blame fans for Players loss

Golfer Matt Fitzpatrick chuckled at the notion that the predominantly American crowd hindered his performance at The Players Championship, where he ultimately lost to Cameron Young on the final hole at TPC Sawgrass.

The English star appeared poised to become only the sixth European to claim the title, holding a one-stroke lead heading into the 17th. However, after witnessing Young draw even with a birdie on the notorious "island" green par-three and then secure victory with a par on the 18th, Fitzpatrick quickly dismissed any suggestions that the home crowd's booing or chants of "U-S-A, U-S-A" aimed at New Yorker Young had affected him.

"Honestly, that crowd was incredibly mild compared to Bethpage," Fitzpatrick stated, referencing a famously rowdy past experience. "If anyone thinks that was intense, they need to visit New York. That's just how it is. I would hope for similar intensity in Europe, although perhaps with a bit more politeness. I anticipated it. I experienced it with Jordan Spieth [at the RBC Heritage] in 2023. I honestly find it quite amusing." His performance moved him from 24th to 15th in the latest world rankings.

Cameron Young's Victory and Future Outlook

Fitzpatrick held no animosity towards Young, who ascended from 15th to 4th globally, seeing his Masters odds shorten to 28-1. Young's remarkable 375-yard drive on the 18th hole marked the longest recorded since the tour began tracking shots in 2003. Despite this triumph, the new champion remained modest about setting ambitious future goals.

"This is a challenging sport, and there are many exceptionally talented players," Young remarked. "I'm not big on setting rigid goals; I don't have a specific list for this year or anything. Last season, my focus was East Lake and the Ryder Cup. This season, it's about preparing for the Masters, so my goal is to compete for titles as often as possible beforehand. This tournament truly has a major championship feel; The Players is an incredible event. If anything, it's the best possible preparation one could ask for ahead of the season's first major."

Updates on Irish Golfers: Lowry, McIlroy, and Power

It was a challenging week for the Irish contingent at TPC Sawgrass.

Shane Lowry

Shane Lowry is still finding his form after his disappointing showing at the Cognizant Classic, having missed his second consecutive cut. He plans to take this week off before the Tour heads to Texas for back-to-back events in Houston and San Antonio, leading up to the Masters.

Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy, who tied for 46th and ranked near the bottom of the field for strokes gained putting, has not yet decided if he will compete in another event before defending his title at Augusta National. He emphatically dismissed as "preposterous" any claims that the TGL, the indoor simulator league he co-founded with Tiger Woods, was responsible for the back injuries affecting both himself and Collin Morikawa last week. "There's a bit more travel involved for the guys, a little more," McIlroy acknowledged at TPC Sawgrass. "But to solely blame that is absurd. No."

McIlroy's Boston Common team is scheduled to face Woods' Jupiter Links in the TGL semifinals soon, but the Holywood star could not confirm his participation. "We'll see," he commented recently. "Honestly, I haven't... yeah, we'll see." He previously indicated during the Genesis Invitational at The Riviera Country Club that his initial plan was to be at Augusta National the weekend before the Masters, effectively ruling out an appearance at the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio. "I'll likely walk around and watch the final round of the ANWA on Saturday," he said last month. "I'll also participate in some capacity in the Drive, Chip & Putt." While he played the Texas Children's Houston Open last year, his return next week remains uncertain. "I'll check," he stated. "I haven't really made a decision either way. I'll see how my body feels. We'll see how I feel in practice and at home, and if I get restless, I might add an event at some point."

Seamus Power

Seamus Power, who was a late addition to the TPC Sawgrass field and tied for 70th, currently ranks 91st in the FedEx Cup standings. He is the second reserve for the upcoming Valspar Championship at Innisbrook and is hoping for another last-minute opportunity in an event where he finished tied for eighth behind Viktor Hovland last year.