'Polar opposite' Fitzpatrick brothers bonding on the fairways

Matt Fitzpatrick is coming off a victory at last week's RBC Heritage and holds a career-high ranking of No 8 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Alex Fitzpatrick is No 705 in the OWGR, pursuing full-time status on the DP World Tour via the Challenge Tour.

The gulf between their resumes (and personalities) aside, Matt said it was a "no-brainer" to team up with brother Alex in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the PGA Tour's team event, this week.

"I think we're polar opposites I would say," said Matt. "I'm organized, he's unorganized. He's happy, I'm miserable. Yeah, that's probably a good way to put it really."

Between brotherly joshing, Matt Fitzpatrick admitted at Tuesday's news conference that his brother is "a very good iron player and he's got a great short game", which he feels complements his own strengths of driving and putting.

The Englishmen comprise one of the 80 teams on the property at TPC Louisiana, where the field will play four-ball (or best ball) in the first and third rounds and foursomes (or alternate shot) in the second and fourth rounds.

"I'm very thankful for the opportunity to come play here," said Alex.

"Just trying to make it just like another week really with the same preparation and trying not to change much, although the format is obviously a lot different, and obviously playing with him is a lot different. Still just trying to play my own game, and yeah, just do as well as I can but also enjoy it at the same time."

Matt said he was "really proud" of how his younger brother's game has developed.

"I have to give him a ton of credit," Matt said. "Obviously this is a first for me, but normally the younger brother or brother of a player, it's not always easy for them to have success or play well or be up there or make it.

"Whereas Alex came out last year and finished top 25 in the majority of his European Tour starts, got a Challenge Tour card. He's played well already this year in the Challenge Tour events that he's played."

Alex was on a plane en route to New Orleans on Sunday and had to watch TV while in the air as Matt defeated Jordan Spieth on the third hole of a playoff at the RBC Heritage, winning his second PGA Tour title following his breakthrough at last June's US Open.

This week, the brothers reunite in the Bayou State for a rare opportunity to hit the links together.

"Obviously, this was an opportunity to play with my brother, and you don't know how many of those you're going to get," Matt said.

"For me, obviously I'm going to have to admit it now in front of everyone, but yeah, it was a no-brainer for me. It was always one I was looking to try and play."

Reuters