Matt Fitzpatrick clinched the RBC Heritage title in a dramatic play-off, beating Jordan Spieth at Harbour Town in South Carolina. The English golfer had missed promising birdie putts on the last two holes, finishing on 17-under. Spieth made an impressive start with four birdies in the first six holes, equalising with Fitzpatrick on 16-under. He moved ahead when Fitzpatrick dropped a stroke on the par-three seventh. However, Fitzpatrick levelled with Spieth on 17-under after birdies on the 15th and 16th before winning the play-off. Masters champion Jon Rahm finished on 11-under with Tommy Fleetwood, while Tyrell Hatton carded an impressive 5-under-par 66 to reach 10-under.
Fitzpatrick, who won the US Open in 2022, said, “It’s a course I dreamed of playing when I was young. 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, he used to vacation with his family at a resort on the island where the tournament is held. He told Sky Sports, “I managed to play it a couple of times with my dad and this one means more than anything. Of every single one on the calendar, this is the one that I would want to win the most.”
Spieth had won the tournament last year against Patrick Cantlay, but he could not repeat the feat against Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick had led Spieth by two shots at the start of the final round. Still, Spieth levelled the game, and they finished at 17-under. Spieth missed putts to win on the first two play-off holes before Fitzpatrick birdied the third for victory.
Fitzpatrick had his breakthrough win in the 2015 British Masters, becoming the youngest Englishman to win three European Tour events. This latest win will see him climb the world rankings from his current position of 30th, and he will hope to maintain his form in the upcoming events.
Source :BBC
