CNN
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Matt Fitzpatrick conquered reigning champion Jordan Spieth in a playoff to seal an emotional RBC Heritage victory at Hilton Head on Sunday.
With the duo unable to be separated at 17-under par after an enthralling remaining day battle, the Englishman broke the impasse in gorgeous trend on the third playoff gap, punching his method shot to inside inches of the cup earlier than tapping residence for birdie to clinch his second PGA Tour title.
His first had come after a equally close-fought remaining spherical on the US Open in Brookline final yr. There had been a late scare then when his final tee shot discovered the bunker, and the 28-year-old’s coronary heart charge could have been simply as excessive when each of Spieth’s putts for birdie throughout the primary two playoff holes appeared destined to settle within the cup.
But as soon as once more, Fitzpatrick endured, weathering the storm to grow to be solely the second Englishman to win the event after Nick Faldo in 1984.
Victory jumps him to a career-high world No. 8 and seals him $3.6 million in prize cash from a $20 million purse, elevated by the event’s standing as a delegated occasion on the PGA Tour.
It additionally marks a win at a course with a particular significance to Fitzpatrick. Although born and bred in Sheffield, household holidays spent at Hilton Head Island meant a win at Harbor City Golf Hyperlinks was a bucket checklist merchandise for the Englishman.
“I believe I can retire now,” Fitzpatrick joked to reporters.
“This one is the one which I’ve all the time needed to win. [Of] any golf event – aside from the majors, after all – there isn’t the next one on my checklist than to win this one, and that’s the reality.
“My household can let you know that, and my pals can inform you an identical factor. This place is only a particular place for me, and it means the world to have received it.”
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Having taken a one-shot lead into the ultimate spherical, Fitzpatrick exchanged the lead a number of instances with Spieth, looking for to defend his title after a playoff victory over Patrick Cantlay a yr in the past. Cantlay once more impressed however got here up narrowly brief, ending one stroke adrift of the rating wanted to hitch the main duo within the playoff.
Spieth was roared on by the South Carolina crowd as he and Fitzpatrick replayed the seventeenth and 18th holes, with chants of ‘U-S-A’ audible at a number of factors in the course of the playoff. The Dallas-born world No. 9 might be seen gesturing to followers for quiet, however Fitzpatrick was unfazed, an impressive method leaving his American rival needing to make a birdie from near 40 ft on the 18th to extend the competition.
“Whenever you’re the underdog or the person who everybody isn’t rooting for, it’s clearly slightly bit sweeter while you do win, there’s little question about that,” Fitzpatrick stated.
“Clearly the U-S-A and the Spieth chants had been louder, however I positively had assist out right here, and I felt that due to my connection right here.”
Spieth’s effort rolled vast to compound one other agonizing runner-up end, his 18th on the PGA Tour since his first yr as a professional in 2013 and 4 greater than every other participant throughout the identical interval, in accordance to the PGA Tour.
The 2-time main champion had appeared set to grow to be a 14-time PGA Tour winner on each the primary two playoff holes, just for his first birdie putt to lip out and his second to tug up inches brief.
Spieth, who arrived in South Carolina off the again of a powerful tied-fourth exhibiting at The Masters final week, had lifted his putter in celebration as his first effort had rolled in the direction of the outlet.
His disbelief remained even after Fitzpatrick’s victory was sealed.
“I believe if I hit the identical putt 10 instances, it goes in eight instances. It ought to go left on the very finish there on the grain. It simply wasn’t meant to be,” Spieth informed reporters.
“Somebody was going to make a birdie. It wasn’t going to be a bogey to lose that playoff the best way that we had been each taking part in at present … He [Fitzpatrick] simply snuck in and performed some great golf.”
