Matt Fitzpatrick earns his second PGA Tour win with another US Open in 2022. Photo: Getty Images
What a way for Matt Fitzpatrick to chalk up his first win since winning the US Open last June. Not only did he go head-to-head with Jordan Spieth at the RBC Heritage, the Englishman did so with one of the great shots in the PGA Tour playoffs.
If any move by the club could ever be deemed worthy of the ridiculous £3m first prize in North Carolina — John Rahm's check for winning the Masters last Sunday was actually £200,000 less — it was Fitzpatrick's iron on third additional prize. hole. The daring approach to par-four came within a few yards of the bunker guarding the green and swerved a few inches.
It was uncompromising and brutal, and somewhere European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald howled with delight. When the home team try to win back the trophy in Rome later this year, Donald will have to put Fitzpatrick's wonder shot in the team room. Young Americans are brilliant, no doubt. But the bank manager's quiet son just re-emphasized that they are not invincible.
If any critics — perhaps the US — doubted the 28-year-old's quality or the strength of Sheffield's steel, then this fearless performance in a $20 million «promoted» tournament should remove all question marks. Fitzpatrick's poor form in the first few months of the season certainly seems blessed in the rearview mirror.
After finishing in a very respectable 10th place at the Masters, upon arriving in Georgia fearing he would miss cut, Fitzpatrick built on this radically improved display to win at his «second favorite pitch» to continue his breakthrough at the US Open 10 months ago.
They always say that the next win after the major is very important, and given the opposition and how he won, this should be doubly true for Fitzpatrick. At this "scheduled event" participated 21 of the 25 best in the world.
The resonance of the venue should not be underestimated. It may not be Brooklyn — the historic Boston circuit where Fitzpatrick won the U.S. Amateur Championship and then the U.S. Open — but his parents first took him to Harbor Town at the age of six, and he still carries a replica of the headpiece in his bag. dress. the field's legendary beacon.
«I told Billy [Foster, his caddy] it couldn't be any better,» Fitzpatrick said. “I came here as a child with my parents and brother and I just dreamed of one day playing here in a big competition. It shows me how far I have come.”
Celebration in 2001, dream day in 2023. Fitzpatrick climbs to No. 8 in the world, his highest ever ranking, and with another huge scalp on his resume. .
Even if the plaid jacket given to Fitzpatrick certainly didn't come close to the attire status of the green jacket worn by Ryder Cup teammate Rahm, Fitzpatrick would take a lot. And not just the outrageous payouts.
Speeth looked up to the successful defending champion as he played the first 13 holes in the top five to cut Fitzpatrick's overnight lead. However, Fitzpatrick took 15th and 16th to level, and down 17th — after 66 for Spit and 68 for Fitzpatrick — they battled third-place Patrick Cantley.
Spit had a chance to bury him in the first two sudden death holes, but he remained unresponsive to Fitzpatrick's magical touch.
“Matt played great golf,” Spit said. «I had several putts to win this playoff and I don't know how the one in the first playoff hole didn't make it.
«I think if I get into that same hit 10 times, he goes eight times. It just wasn't supposed to be. Matt was great.”
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