Matt Fitzpatrick supported by his girlfriend at the Open

A professional golfer clocks up thousands of air miles every year going from tournament to tournament. Matt Fitzpatrick is no different. The 22-year-old from Sheffield is No 40 in the world, the fifth best player in England and his stock has never been higher as he prepares for the 146th Open.

A professional golfer clocks up thousands of air miles every year going from tournament to tournament. Matt Fitzpatrick is no different. The 22-year-old from Sheffield is No 40 in the world, the fifth best player in England and his stock has never been higher as he prepares for the 146th Open.

This week at Royal Birkdale he is joined by someone who is just as committed to him as he is to the game of golf — not his parents or his brother Alex although they will be there — his American girlfriend Lydia Cassada.

Cassada, whom Fitzpatrick met at Northwestern University in Chicago — where he studied for one semester before turning professional — has clocked up over 15,000 miles over the last few months to be by his side.

Open hopeful Matt Fitzpatrick will have the support of girlfriend Lydia Cassada this week

Open hopeful Matt Fitzpatrick will have the support of girlfriend Lydia Cassada this week

Fitzpatrick will take to the course at Royal Birkdale as the 40th best golfer in the world

Fitzpatrick will take to the course at Royal Birkdale as the 40th best golfer in the world

The 22-year-old is also fifth in the UK ¿ a career high for the Sheffield golfer

The 22-year-old is also fifth in the UK — a career high for the Sheffield golfer

In May, the talented lacrosse player got her first glimpse of her boyfriend on home soil at Wentworth.


Fitzpatrick finished tied-12th at the BMW PGA Championship and his girlfriend, along with his dad Russell and manager Ted Brady, walked the course.

At the end of June she returned to England to begin her ‘summer European tour’.

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On Instagram last week she posted a picture of her and Fitzpatrick walking the fairways of Dundonald at the Scottish Open.

‘So lucky to be in love with my best friend #mushygushy,’ she captioned the image.

In between events they have been invited into the Royal Box at Wimbledon, taken a selfie in front of the Eiffel Tower and spent time in Versailles.

Cassada walked the fairways of  Dundonald at the Scottish Open last week with Fitzpatrick

Cassada walked the fairways of  Dundonald at the Scottish Open last week with Fitzpatrick

The pair were invited to this year's Wimbledon and have enjoyed the summer in the UK

The pair were invited to this year's Wimbledon and have enjoyed the summer in the UK

But they also found time for a quick snap in front of the Eiffel Tower while holidaying in Paris

But they also found time for a quick snap in front of the Eiffel Tower while holidaying in Paris

Fitzpatrick admits that having her with him during events has changed things but for the better.

‘Absolutely [it changes things having her with me],’ he told Sportsmail. ‘It certainly makes life easier. You get to come home and go back to normal where you’re not really talking about golf. It’s nice to be able to come off a course to her.’

More pressure this week than usual with her attending a home major?

‘No not at all,’ he added. ‘It’s just nice to have her and my family’s support. It just makes you feel more comfortable. If the golf’s not going too well then you have people to talk to about it but you can also switch off and forget about it.’

Fitzpatrick admitted recently that there are plans next year to move to America to compete on the PGA Tour if he can win his playing card. It could also mean a permanent move to the state of Georgia where Cassada originally hails from. 

 

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