Matt Fitzpatrick eclipses Faldo record

• Matt Fitzpatrick eclipses European Tour record set by Faldo
• The 22-year-old is the youngest Englishman to three tour wins
• Makes mockery of Twitter exchange from Nedbank Golf Challenge

Matt Fitzpatrick eclipsed Sir Nick Faldo as the youngest player to three European Tour wins after hitting the jackpot in Dubai – and in doing so made a mockery of a Twitter exchange asking if he ‘had anything to fall back on’.

The 22-year-old took advantage of an error from fellow Englishman Tyrrell Hatton in the group ahead at the DP World Tour Championship to finish one shot clear and win for €1.2m – lifting him up to seventh in the final Race to Dubai standings.

“I’d love to play on the PGA Tour eventually” – Matt Fitzpatrick

Fitzpatrick now has €4.5m earned from two full seasons on Tour – but that didn’t stop one Twitter follower posing a particularly intriguing question should golf ‘not work out’ for the Englishman.

After an opening round 76 at the Nedbank Golf Challenge last Thursday, Fitzpatrick tweeted his disappointment with his long game, prompting the following exchange.

Well not much good today, need to get the driver going to score round here! 3 more days to get it going

— Matt Fitzpatrick (@MattFitz94) November 10, 2016

Are you good at anything else Matt, get any qualifications to fall back on? https://t.co/UeE8invSQZ

— DAVE CROSS (@BROWNTAIPAN) November 10, 2016

.@BROWNTAIPAN quite content playing golf right now thanks…

— Matt Fitzpatrick (@MattFitz94) November 10, 2016

But it turned out it was actually a serious question.

@MattFitz94 @BROWNTAIPAN no seriously, do you golfers have things to fall back on in later years or do you rely on being successful

— DAVE CROSS (@BROWNTAIPAN) November 10, 2016

@BROWNTAIPAN I have A levels, my parents were the 1st to make sure I had something to fall back on! Without them I wouldnt be doing this now

— Matt Fitzpatrick (@MattFitz94) November 10, 2016

Sorry if you thought it sarcasm but like all parents they insist in something to fall back on. https://t.co/b7uFDZFSH1

— DAVE CROSS (@BROWNTAIPAN) November 10, 2016

.@BROWNTAIPAN no problem just maybe phrase it a bit better have a good evening

— Matt Fitzpatrick (@MattFitz94) November 10, 2016

Somehow, we think he’ll be just fine.

Speaking after the win, which was two years to the day after securing his European Tour card in Q-School, Fitzpatrick says he now has his focus set on getting his PGA Tour card.

“I’d love to play on the PGA Tour eventually,” he said. “I don’t want to rush it. I think now winning this, I’m not 100% sure, but is it a five-year exemption? That gives me three, at least, to really push for my PGA Tour card if I’m honest.

“I won’t just abandon the European Tour. Obviously it will always be the main tour I play, but three years to sort of give it a go gives me a good opportunity, I feel.”

Follow @BunkeredOnline

What will Matt Fitzpatrick go on to achieve?

What do you think is the next step for Matt Fitzpatrick? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.