Once a top amateur, Matthew Fitzpatrick tries to conquer the pros

Half a dozen golfers from the UK are in the top 25, with some, including Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Paul Casey, known to fans around the world.

Matthew Fitzpatrick, at number 20, may not be that famous.

Fitzpatrick, 26, who will play at the BMW PGA Championship, starting Thursday at the Wentworth Club in England, is the youngest of the British contingent in the top 25.

He received the silver medal for being the lowest scoring amateur at the 2013 British Open, finishing in a tie for 44th, and followed that up a month later by capturing the United States Amateur Championship to become the first England winner of that prestigious tournament since 1911 turn into. He briefly attended Northwestern University before turning pro in 2014.

] Fitzpatrick, who was 0-2 as a member of the 2016 European Ryder Cup team in Minnesota and has not yet won the PGA Tour, recently reflected on his game and goals for the future.

The following conversation has been edited and compressed.

How does the track for the BMW fit your game?

It's a great golf course for me. I love to be back there and play there, the style with tree lines of course and the fairways are in good condition. The greens are good. It's always great.

It's been seven years since you won the American Amateur. Are you satisfied with what you have achieved?

I would have liked to win a few more times. The way I see my game, the way I see myself as a player, I feel like I would have liked to get a little more out of it.

Why didn't you get more? get out?

Frankly, looking at the past 18 months, it's just one bad lap. I have weeks where I'll be off to a bad start and then I'll be behind the eight ball, and it's very hard to come back. Whereas if you look at my best results I start strong and just keep pushing. I think that's really the difference. I know I am working on it and trying to figure out where I need to constantly improve.

What do you need to work on to take your game to the next level?

Playing my approach. Looking at many good iron players, they have a similar takeaway. It's a little slow and purposeful and sometimes I get a little fast. I'm working on that, and hopefully it will pay off.

How important would it be for you to be part of the Ryder Cup team in 2021?

It's important to me to be on that team. It's something I wanted to do growing up. I want to make up for the limited opportunities I got in 2016. It wasn't my best experience because I haven't been able to play as much as I would have liked.

Is it good for you in a way to have this extra year for the Ryder Cup?

The extra year gives me a little more time to get better, to get more experience. Obviously, there is also a chance that I could play really badly and miss the team.

Should you have been at Le Golf National in France in 2018?

I probably should have been on that team, not the 2016 team. I would have been more ready. I also think the golf course suits me more. I am not trying [the captain] at all. I never expected to be picked.

What is your potential? How good can you be?

I believe I could be a world number 1, and I could be a big winner. I know it's a little bit different, but I did it at the amateur level and I don't see why I can't do it at the professional level.

Was football growing up your first love more than golf?

It still is, to be honest. I love football more than anything. I just saw my team [Sheffield United] lose 1 zero. I feel depressed after seeing that, and I'm not even involved. I'm a fan.