Matt Fitzpatrick admits his U.S. Open Championship victory last month has not completely sunk in yet despite being congratulated by Tiger Woods at the 2022 JP McManus Pro-Am on Monday.
Fitzpatrick is playing for the first time since his stunning victory at The Country Club, Brookline just over two weeks ago, taking his place among a world-class field gathered at Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort for the sold-out Pro-Am.
The Englishman is still getting used to life as a Major Champion and said it has not fully hit home despite the well-wishes he has received from fellow professionals and fans alike.
He was congratulated again before getting his opening round under way at Adare Manor on day one - this time by 15-time Major winner Woods.
Fitzpatrick said: "It's funny, I bumped into him at breakfast this morning.
"We walked past each other and he gave me a pat on the back and said well done. It's a pretty nice feeling.
"To be honest all the players have been brilliant to me.
"I received a lot of messages from other players, US players and Europeans, congratulating me, and that meant a lot. I really appreciated that."
When asked if he could name a moment when last month's one-shot victory at Brookline sunk in, Fitzpatrick added: "No. It's still not.
"You know, every day, like the big thing is, I've got a group chat with a lot of my pals and stuff and we just talk all sorts of rubbish on there, and any time that they try and give me any abuse, I just pull the card on them.
"So it's just not sunk in. To be here today and every single person I walk past saying 'congratulations' and 'well done', I've been lucky it's happening a lot of places that I've been and it means the world."
Fitzpatrick heaped praise on Adare Manor after his opening 18 holes on Monday.
He said: "It lived up to the expectations and more.
"There's not many golf courses in this world that there's nothing out of place, two spring to mind now, one is Augusta National and the other one is here.
"It's a first-class place, first-class property and yeah, really is incredible."
