Matt Fitzpatrick makes big equipment switch ahead of expected Ryder Cup pick

Matt Fitzpatrick has switched into a new driver at this week's Betfred British Masters at The Belfry.

Fitzpatrick, 30, has decided to tinker with the top end of his bag a full month before the Ryder Cup at Bethpage in New York.

Whether his weapon remains in the bag in four weeks' time remains to be seen, but GolfMagic considers it to be one of the best golf drivers.

The Englishman cannot qualify automatically for the European Ryder Cup team but he is fully expected to earn one of Luke Donald's six captain's picks on Monday 1 September. 

Fitzpatrick is incredibly playing golf at The Belfry for the first time in his career this week. 

It's fair to say his new driver is certainly behaving well as he's currently sitting pretty inside the top 10 at the time of publication. 

Although Fitzpatrick is not a contracted Titleist player, GolfMagic understands the 2022 US Open champion had been using a Titleist GT2 Driver at the start of last week's BMW Championship at Caves Valley in Maryland. 

He then switched into a Titleist TSI Driver with a fade move for the rest of the tournament en route to a T17 finish.

That was unfortunately not enough for him to advance into this week's 30-man Tour Championship on the PGA Tour. 

Fitzpatrick finished the FedEx Cup race in 34th, and as a result it allowed him to compete on home turf at the British Masters. 

Following extensive work with his team on the range at The Belfry, GolfMagic understands the nine-time DP World Tour winner has now switched into a Titleist GT3 Driver. 

He is now said to be very happy with his driver of choice, which offers him a slightly lower ball flight and more penetrating ball flight.

"I was alongside him during the Pro-Am on Wednesday and he's using a new driver," said Sky Sports Golf commentator Ken Brown during the second round coverage of the Betfred British Masters. 

"He was polishing it all up and I said to him 'oh how long have you had that?' and he said 'I've only had it since today'.

"So he's using a brand new driver, he hadn't really tested it but it's working well.

"It's got a slightly lower and more penetrating flight."

Fitzpatrick is not the only European Ryder Cup player to recently change his driver. 

Justin Rose, who recently won the FedEx St Jude Championship to punch his ticket to New York, made a huge change to a brand he had never previously been associated with. 

Fitzpatrick will be hoping his newly-fitted Titleist driver continues to behave itself at the British Masters and also at next week's Omega European Masters before he turns his attention to the Ryder Cup (providing he gets a pick). 

Driving long and straight will be of paramount importance at Bethpage Black, and Fitzpatrick clearly knows it.