Fitzpatrick hails Foster as he shines at Southern Hills

Matt Fitzpatrick credited caddie Billy Foster after a grinding display in tough conditions left him right in contention heading into the weekend at the 2022 US PGA Championship.

The Englishman had carded a 68 on day one and while he took one more blow in round two, his performance was debatably more impressive as the wind swirled around Southern Hills Country Club on Friday morning.

Fitzpatrick carded two birdies and a bogey with 15 pars to move to three under and revealed patience was the key, something he has been helped with by veteran bagman Foster.

"I think that's the one thing that I've learnt more and more certainly over the last few years, particularly with Billy on the bag as well, is just to stay patient and the birdies will come, basically," he said.

"It's very rare that anyone hits 18 greens in regulation but if you do, you'd like to think you're going to hole one or two, three or four, and now that's sort of four birdies easy as that.

"I think that's been the big thing for me this year, as well as I'm hitting my irons better, just giving myself more chances, not necessarily hitting it any closer, just having more opportunities."

One of the DP World Tour's most consistent performers, Fitzpatrick has seven wins in as many full seasons since earning his card via the Qualifying School in 2014 and has finished in the top five on the Rankings in Partnership with Rolex in each of the last three years.

His Major Championship record shows just one top ten but with five worldwide so far in 2022, the 27-year-old is confident more success will come in the game's biggest four events.

"I think probably 2016, 2017, 2018, maybe my World Ranking was probably better than where my game was," he said. "I think probably that's why I never really kind of challenged, hovering around top-50.

"I think the last three years I feel like I've been closer. I feel like this is the best I've played ever in my career this year so far. I think it's sort of obviously big positives.

"But I think the thing is, we go to all these different golf courses and I've said it a lot this year, I play well at places that suit me or I enjoy playing. And I think some of the places that we go don't necessarily do that for me. That's just the way it is.

"Certainly in the last few years I feel like I'm getting closer to not necessarily challenging for a Major but at least putting myself in contention a little bit more often.