Should whizz kid Fitzpatrick go for four-year US college adventure or strike while the irons are hot?

By Derek Lawrenson

PUBLISHED: 18:12 EST, 9 September 2013 | UPDATED: 18:12 EST, 9 September 2013

We're all on the same page, I take it, as Miguel Angel Jimenez and his criticism of sponsors Omega for inviting 13-year-old Ye Wo-cheng to play in the European Masters last week.

‘No doubt the sponsor wants publicity for the tournament but you shouldn’t be looking for underage players to promote yourself,’ said  Jimenez. ‘They should not be pushing kids his age too hard as it could have a disastrous effect on their careers.’

All well and good. Now here’s a trickier matter. How do we feel about 18-year-old English wonder-boy Matthew Fitzpatrick, who will start studying next week for four years at one of America’s most  prestigious universities, North-western in Chicago?

Bright future: Rising English star Matthew Fitzpatrick won three points at the Walker Cup last weekend

What a summer: Fitzpatrick and Phil Mickelson show off their Open winnings at Muirfield in July

Family affair: The Fitzpatricks celebrate after Matt's victory in the US Amateur Championship at Brookline

Let’s say, at this point, that if I were Fitzpatrick’s father, I’d be as proud as punch after all he’s achieved this summer. A brief  summary: silver medal at the Open; first Englishman since 1911 to win the US Amateur; three points out of four at the Walker Cup last weekend.

Imagine waving your son off on such a journey of educational  discovery? Trouble is, Fitzpatrick wants to be a pro golfer, and four years is an awfully long time to spend these days with only one eye on the ball.

That makes him 22 by the time he graduates. In other words, at an age when Rory McIlroy had already tasted what it’s like to be world No 1, Fitzpatrick will be starting on the bottom rung with no guarantee he will be playing anywhere near as well as he is now.

This time last year American whizz kid Jordan Spieth dropped out of college at the age of 19, to a chorus of disapproval. Now he’s won a tournament, been picked for America’s Presidents Cup team, and has earned more than £1.9million, with plenty more to come before the season ends. There aren’t too many people saying now he’d have been better off completing his studies.

What’s the rush? Don’t golfers have careers that go on forever?

Indeed, the best ones do. But they also learn to strike while the irons are hot, and take advantage of golden patches of form.

Shouldn't you be in school? Thirteen-year-old amateur Ye Wo-Cheng played at the European Masters last week

Fitzpatrick has already reached the pinnacle of the amateur game.

In golf terms there must be a  danger he’s about to embark on a gap year lasting four years.

Still, you can only wish him well. As I say, if he was my son, he’d be encouraged to do exactly what he’s doing. And let’s hope it turns out  as well as the last English golfing starlet who spent four years at Northwestern. A fellow by the name of Luke Donald.

High stakes in Chicago

It’s back to Chicago this week for the heroes of Medinah, and boy could they do with rediscovering a little of that Ryder Cup magic from a year ago. Half-time at the FedEx Cup play-offs, and only Justin Rose is assured of making it to the final whistle.

This week, it’s the BMW Championship for the top 70 players, with the field whittled down to just 30 for the grand finale in Atlanta next week, where the $10million (£6.4m) bonus is awarded to the winner at the Tour Championship.

Much derided at first, the fate of Ian Poulter perhaps explains why this four-tournament play-off series is providing its share of intrigue. Coming to his final hole at the last event, Poulter needed a par five to finish third and climb to 24th place in the FedEx standings, thus guaranteeing himself a place in the final event, where even last place is worth £111,000. He double-bogeyed it instead to tumble to 52nd.

Crunch time: Ian Poulter and Rory McIlroy are among those sweating over their place in the FedEx Cup finale

Not surprisingly, Poulter is looking forward to his return to America’s Midwest and believes he can smell something in the air.

In 41st place, this week’s defending champion Rory McIlroy could do with a whiff of inspiration too, while Luke Donald, 54th, will be hoping to use local knowledge since the venue, Conway Farms, just happens to be his home course.

Lee Westwood is 30th and so occupying the last place to progress. All need to win this week to stand a realistic chance of claiming the massive bonus.

The highest-ranked Brit is Rose (in seventh), in pursuit of in-form Henrik Stenson, who is leading the way from Tiger Woods.

No, it won’t be Medinah, but there should be plenty on offer to make this a rousing end to the PGA Tour season.