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Crowd noise? That was ‘child’s play!’ Matt Fitzpatrick throws shade after being booed at Players

  
Published March 15, 2026 08:06 PM
Fitzpatrick downplays Players crowd noise as 'child's play' compared to Ryder Cup boos
March 15, 2026 08:55 PM
Matt Fitzpatrick saw the crowd turn against him at TPC Sawgrass on Sunday afternoon as he lost a lead to Cameron Young over the final three holes. Fitzpatrick said the boos for him and applause for Young down the stretch was nothing compared to what he faced as a member of the European team at the 2025 Ryder Cup held in Bethpage Black, N.Y.

Matt Fitzpatrick has a clear message to those who think The Players Championship crowd was noisy to the point where it impacted his performance at TPC Sawgrass: They need to reassess.

Fitzpatrick, who bogeyed the 18th hole to lose by one to Cameron Young, called playing in front of the fans in Ponte Vedra Beach “child’s play” compared to what he faced at Bethpage Black in last year’s Ryder Cup.

“If they think that that was anything, then they need to reassess,” Fitzpatrick told reporters after completing his 4-under 68. “Get yourself up to New York.”

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There was no question who the folks at TPC Sawgrass wanted to see win on Sunday. Young was a member of the U.S. team at Bethpage that was humbled by Fitzpatrick’s European team.

Boos rained down before Fitzpatrick hit shots, while “U-S-A! U-S-A!” chants showered Young.

How it actually impacted Fitzpatrick remains a question. He birdied three of his first four holes, and carried a one-stroke lead entering the par-3 17th on the Stadium Course. Young played No. 17 as well as anyone this week, making his third consecutive birdie on the hole to draw even.
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On the par-4 18th, Young hit the longest tee shot in the ShotLink era (dating to 2003), 375 yards into the fairway. Fitzpatrick, hitting second, drove it through the fairway and into the pine straw.

“I felt like I hit a good shot, maybe pushed it slightly. Both felt that the wind was a little bit off the right. Obviously I know Cam hits a draw. His moved a little bit, as well. Figured mine would do the same. Obviously just gone dead straight,” Fitzpatrick said about his tee shot.

Young made par at the last while Fitzpatrick had to pitch out and was unable to get up and down. His bogey left him one back — much to the crowd’s delight.

Fitzpatrick said he would expect similar fan support if he was playing an American at a European course.

“That’s how it is,” he said. “I knew it was coming.”

“It probably wouldn’t be [the exact same] because we’re a little bit more polite in Europe,” he added. “I would hope it would be of similar intensity in Europe.”