Matt Fitzpatrick secured his second RBC Heritage title in a dramatic playoff against Scottie Scheffler. After a near miss for victory on the 72nd hole, Fitzpatrick delivered one of the shots of his career on the first playoff hole.
Facing a 204-yard approach from the 18th fairway, Fitzpatrick struck a superb 4-iron that landed just 13 feet, 4 inches from the pin. This stunning shot set him up for a winning birdie putt.
Scheffler’s approach fell short, leaving him 37 yards from the green. After Scheffler pitched to within 8½ feet, Fitzpatrick sank his birdie putt, narrowly defeating the world’s top-ranked golfer to win the prestigious RBC Heritage tournament.
“To hit the 4-iron that I hit there was out of this world,” Fitzpatrick commented, reflecting on his incredible shot. He had previously won the tournament in 2023 and this victory propelled him to third in the Official World Golf Ranking.
“To win it twice means the world. To go out today and go toe-to-toe with Scottie and get over the line there on the 73rd hole is special.”
This marks the fourth career win for the 31-year-old Englishman and his second of the current season. He also claimed the Valspar Championship last month, following a second-place finish at The Players Championship.
“I definitely have high confidence right now for sure,” Fitzpatrick shared. “The ball is obviously going where I intend it to go.
“I know there’s things that I can still improve in certain areas. So that’s obviously exciting, given the results I’ve achieved so far and what’s to come.”
Scheffler’s Strong Weekend Performance
Fitzpatrick’s path to victory included rounds of 65, 63, 68, and 70, culminating in an 18-under-par total at Harbour Town Golf Links. Scheffler, who began the weekend seven shots behind Fitzpatrick after initial rounds of 68 and 67, mounted a strong challenge with weekend scores of 64 and 67.
This runner-up finish marks Scheffler’s second consecutive major championship where he placed second, following his performance at The Masters.
“I think in both weeks I put myself behind the eight-ball going into the weekend and had really nice Saturdays and Sundays in order to get myself into contention,” Scheffler stated. “On Sunday it’s a shot here or there that makes a difference.
“This was one of those weeks where anytime Fitzy needed something to happen, he made something happen. He definitely earned the win, and he just played great golf.”
Fitzpatrick Maintains Lead Amidst Scheffler’s Charge
Entering the final round with a three-shot lead over Scheffler, Fitzpatrick started strong with birdies on two of the first three holes. He then held steady with 14 consecutive pars before a final-hole bogey. Scheffler, his playing partner, made key birdies on the 15th and 16th holes to narrow the gap to just one shot.
In regulation play, both players missed the 18th green. Scheffler successfully saved par with a chip from 70 feet, while Fitzpatrick’s chip from 69 feet came up short, leading to a missed putt that would have secured his victory.
Fitzpatrick’s exceptional 4-iron approach in the playoff ultimately denied Scheffler a second RBC Heritage crown.
“I knew Scottie was going to make some birdies down the stretch,” Fitzpatrick acknowledged. “And I kind of had to hang in there a little bit.”
While Fitzpatrick and Scheffler battled for the win, Si Woo Kim finished in third place, two strokes behind, after a final-round 68. Collin Morikawa, Harris English, and Ludvig Åberg shared fourth place at 13 under.
Fitzpatrick Anticipates Zurich Classic Team Event
Fitzpatrick is set to team up with his brother, Alex, at the upcoming Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Alex recently secured a victory at the DP World Tour’s Hero Indian Open.
The field will feature notable pairings, including defending champions Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak, as well as Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry. The tournament format includes four-ball on Thursday, foursomes on Friday, followed by further rounds of four-ball and foursomes for the advancing teams.
