- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,149,763
- Reaction score
- 59
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. ― As they started the back nine at Harbour Town Golf Links Sunday, Matt Fitzpatrick and Scottie Scheffler had separated themselves from the pack at the 58th RBC Heritage as they came down the stretch in what was basically a match play scenario.
Fitzpatrick led Scheffler, who entered the week at No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking, by three strokes as they made the turn and he knew Scheffler would keep the heat on.
The 29-year-old Scheffler did just that ― with birdies at the 15th and 16th holes to close within a stroke of Fitzpatrick, who had a run of 14 straight pars coming into the famous No. 18 hole at Harbour Town.
Fitzpatrick and Scheffler were nearly in the same spot just off the back of the green on the last hole in regulation. Scheffler hit first with a delicate pitch that teased the hole as the crowd erupted ― he tapped in for par to finish regulation with 4-under 67.
Fitzpatrick left himself a 22 footer for par and missed for his first bogey of the day as he carded a 1-under par 70. The duo headed back to the 18th hole to start the playoff.
The crowd was rooting for Scheffler as some chants "USA, USA" started from the bleachers surrounding the 18th green on the last hole of regulation and the extra hole. But it didn't have any effect on Fitzpatrick, who hit a strong drive and then laced a low 4-iron into a strong wind that ended up 13 feet past the hole. Scheffler was short and right of the green and forced to chip up to about 10 feet.
Fitzpatrick calmly drained the winning putt for birdie and after retrieving the ball from the cup put his hand to his ear and looked playfully into the stands in what almost seemed like a Ryder Cup moment.
The native of Sheffield, England fell in love with Harbour Town as a youngster ― taking frequent vacations to Hilton Head Island with his family. Now he's a two-time RBC champion, having also won in 2023.
"It's incredible. Words don't really do it justice," Fitzpatrick said. "I remember being stuck behind those gates and watching the players practice putting, and now I'm one of those and a two-time winner. I'm obviously absolutely delighted. To do it the way I did was special. The 18th hole was playing so different today compared to the first three days. It was quite funny that the playoff was just going to keep playing on 18. I was thinking it was going difficult in a way to separate ourselves because it's such a difficult hole, so to do it how I did was special."
Fitzpatrick said his final approach was the perfect yardage for a 4-iron, which was added to the bag for Sunday's round by his caddie Daniel Parratt.
"I'll be honest, I pulled it a little bit," said Fitzpatrick, who now has four wins on the PGA Tour, including the 2022 U.S. Open. "But it was such a great number for 4-iron, again great planning from Dan. He's just so aware of what's going on with the wind even before we tee off and stuff. But I knew after the one in regulation, I had basically hit it as well as I could, and then in the fairway it was the same story. I knew I could just hit it. Fortunately, I hit a great shot."
Asked about the chanting and the crowd favoring Schefler, Fitzpatrick, a veteran of four Ryder Cups, said it didn't bother him in the least.
"No, it didn't get out of line in terms of no one was shouting on backswings or anything like that, which was great. I'm all for it. I love the people ― they're supporting Scottie; that's great. You want golf to have an atmosphere ― in my opinion. I grew up watching football. I'm paid so much money to be out there in front of those crowds, having them chanting at you every week, it's great feeling.
"However, there's no better feeling than coming out on top against that," he said. "To describe it in my terms, it's kind of winning away against your biggest rival. Nothing to do with Scottie or the players; it's the fans that have sort of spurred me on there. It was nice to obviously win, but it never crossed the line. It was just loud. Just loud."
After winning at the Valspar Championship in March, the 31-year-old Fitzpatrick has two wins in his last three starts. He started the week at No. 7 in the World Golf Ranking and is projected to move up to a career high No. 3 with the win at Harbour Town.
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at [email protected]. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Fitzpatrick beats Scheffler in playoff to win second RBC Heritage title
Continue reading...
Fitzpatrick led Scheffler, who entered the week at No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking, by three strokes as they made the turn and he knew Scheffler would keep the heat on.
The 29-year-old Scheffler did just that ― with birdies at the 15th and 16th holes to close within a stroke of Fitzpatrick, who had a run of 14 straight pars coming into the famous No. 18 hole at Harbour Town.
Fitzpatrick and Scheffler were nearly in the same spot just off the back of the green on the last hole in regulation. Scheffler hit first with a delicate pitch that teased the hole as the crowd erupted ― he tapped in for par to finish regulation with 4-under 67.
Fitzpatrick left himself a 22 footer for par and missed for his first bogey of the day as he carded a 1-under par 70. The duo headed back to the 18th hole to start the playoff.
The crowd was rooting for Scheffler as some chants "USA, USA" started from the bleachers surrounding the 18th green on the last hole of regulation and the extra hole. But it didn't have any effect on Fitzpatrick, who hit a strong drive and then laced a low 4-iron into a strong wind that ended up 13 feet past the hole. Scheffler was short and right of the green and forced to chip up to about 10 feet.
Fitzpatrick calmly drained the winning putt for birdie and after retrieving the ball from the cup put his hand to his ear and looked playfully into the stands in what almost seemed like a Ryder Cup moment.
The native of Sheffield, England fell in love with Harbour Town as a youngster ― taking frequent vacations to Hilton Head Island with his family. Now he's a two-time RBC champion, having also won in 2023.
You must be registered for see images attach
"It's incredible. Words don't really do it justice," Fitzpatrick said. "I remember being stuck behind those gates and watching the players practice putting, and now I'm one of those and a two-time winner. I'm obviously absolutely delighted. To do it the way I did was special. The 18th hole was playing so different today compared to the first three days. It was quite funny that the playoff was just going to keep playing on 18. I was thinking it was going difficult in a way to separate ourselves because it's such a difficult hole, so to do it how I did was special."
Fitzpatrick said his final approach was the perfect yardage for a 4-iron, which was added to the bag for Sunday's round by his caddie Daniel Parratt.
You must be registered for see images attach
"I'll be honest, I pulled it a little bit," said Fitzpatrick, who now has four wins on the PGA Tour, including the 2022 U.S. Open. "But it was such a great number for 4-iron, again great planning from Dan. He's just so aware of what's going on with the wind even before we tee off and stuff. But I knew after the one in regulation, I had basically hit it as well as I could, and then in the fairway it was the same story. I knew I could just hit it. Fortunately, I hit a great shot."
Asked about the chanting and the crowd favoring Schefler, Fitzpatrick, a veteran of four Ryder Cups, said it didn't bother him in the least.
"No, it didn't get out of line in terms of no one was shouting on backswings or anything like that, which was great. I'm all for it. I love the people ― they're supporting Scottie; that's great. You want golf to have an atmosphere ― in my opinion. I grew up watching football. I'm paid so much money to be out there in front of those crowds, having them chanting at you every week, it's great feeling.
"However, there's no better feeling than coming out on top against that," he said. "To describe it in my terms, it's kind of winning away against your biggest rival. Nothing to do with Scottie or the players; it's the fans that have sort of spurred me on there. It was nice to obviously win, but it never crossed the line. It was just loud. Just loud."
You must be registered for see images attach
After winning at the Valspar Championship in March, the 31-year-old Fitzpatrick has two wins in his last three starts. He started the week at No. 7 in the World Golf Ranking and is projected to move up to a career high No. 3 with the win at Harbour Town.
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at [email protected]. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Fitzpatrick beats Scheffler in playoff to win second RBC Heritage title
Continue reading...
