RBC Heritage: Matt Fitzpatrick beats Jordan Spieth in play-off to win tournament
- Published
Fitzpatrick (right) won the US Open in 2022 for his first victory in a major
RCC Heritage final leaderboard |
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-17 M Fitzpatrick (Eng), J Spieth (US); -16 P Cantlay (US); -15 X Schauffele (US) -14 H Buckley (US), S Theegala (US); -13 C Davis (Aus), E Grillo (Arg), B Harman (US), SJ Im (Kor) |
Selected others:-12 S Scheffler (US), -11 T Fleetwood (Eng), J Rahm (Spa); -10 T Hatton (Eng); -9 J Rose (Eng) |
England's US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick beat Jordan Spieth in a dramatic play-off to win the $20m RBC Heritage title in South Carolina.
They finished on 17 under at Harbour Town after Fitzpatrick, who missed promising birdie putts on the last two holes, carded a three-under 68.
Spieth, who shot a 66, missed putts to win on the first two play-off holes and Fitzpatrick birdied the third to win.
"It's a course I dreamed of playing when I was young," said Fitzpatrick.
"I feel like I have been very lucky in my career - I have won a major and now this. This is very special."
As a child, Fitzpatrick used to holiday with his family, external at a resort on the island where the tournament is held.
"I managed to play it a couple of times with my dad and this one means more than anything," the 28-year-old told Sky Sports.
"Of every single one on the calendar, this is the one that I would want to win the most."
Spieth had beaten compatriot Patrick Cantlay in a play-off to win the tournament last year but could not repeat the feat.
Fitzpatrick led Spieth by two shots at the start of the final round but the latter started strongly with four birdies in the first six holes, which put him level on 16 under with the Englishman.
The American moved into the sole lead when Fitzpatrick, who birdied the second and fifth holes, dropped a stroke on the par-three seventh.
Fitzpatrick drew level with Spieth on 17 under after birdies on the 15th and 16th as the tournament went into a play-off.
The Sheffield golfer claimed victory after hitting a sensational nine-iron - the club he used when hitting his approach to the final green to win the US Open - to a few inches on the 17th and tapping in the birdie putt.
Masters champion Jon Rahm carded a 68 to finish on 11 under along with England's Tommy Fleetwood (71).
England's Tyrrell Hatton shot an impressive 66 to get to 10 under, while compatriot Justin Rose hit a 70 which left him on nine under.