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My age not important at Ryder Cup

There is no chance of Matt Fitzpatrick using his age as an excuse at the Ryder Cup.

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Matt Fitzpatrick insists his status as the youngest player on either team at the Ryder Cup will be of no importance this weekend.

At 22, Europe's Fitzpatrick is the youngest of the 24 players that will do battle at Hazeltine.

However, while the English rookie may appear a boy among men, he stood out playing alongside Henrik Stenson and Lee Westwood in practice on Wednesday.

On the par-five 16th hole - the shortest of the four par fives on the course - Fitzpatrick was 40 yards behind Stenson and Westwood off the tee, but he drilled a hybrid just right of the green and got up and down for birdie as if it was the easiest thing in the world.

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And the newcomer is not interested in using his youth as an excuse ahead of the ultimate test on nerve.

"I won't be thinking about it," he told a news conference.

"I know I'm the youngest, but, no, like I say, it doesn't enter my mind. It's just a number. I've already had a few comments about my age this week, but I'm used to it."

Fitzpatrick endured a mixed season - mainly on the European Tour - missing the cut 11 times, but finishing in the top 10 five times, including a win at the Nordea Masters in Sweden.

Nerves can play a part with even the most experienced players in a Ryder Cup, but Fitzpatrick - one of six European rookies - thinks his experience in other big events will help calm him down.

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"Don't get me wrong," he said. "It's a completely different event, this, to anything normally, but I think everyone's had that experience in regular tournament play that's put them in good stead to maybe help for this event."

Asked about how much involvement he expects to have over the weekend, he replied: "Obviously I'd love to play, but it's not about me. At the end of the day, it's about the team."

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