Matt Fitzpatrick was nothing short of Fitz-Magic down the tense home stretch at The Country Club on Sunday and two big clutch putts then a stunning bunker escape at the 72nd hole helped him land the big one — the 122nd United States Open.
The young English star was locked in a three-way battle all afternoon with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and playing partner Will Zalatoris, who once again stood on the doorstep of a major championship but had the door slammed in his face.
Scheffler looked like the man to beat early on. He birdied four of his first six holes and was six-under par for the championship. But the 10th and 11th holes — the two that took him down on Saturday, proved his undoing once again. He missed the green at 10 and failed to get up-and-down from the front greenside bunker. Then at 11, playing only 108 yards, downhill, he three-putted from 28 feet at the hole where he made double-bogey on Saturday. When he looks back, he’ll know one of the shortest holes in major championship golf cost him a U.S. Open.
Truth be known, Fitzpatrick was the steadiest of the three as he hit 17 of 18 greens and saved his most impressive shot for last.
With Zalatoris was in the fairway and Scheffler finished at five-under when Fitzpatrick hooked his tee shot into the bunker that hit Jon Rahm up for a double-bogey on the 54th hole late Saturday.
Golf knows what scares you and Fitzpatrick admitted that the bunker shot concerned him a lot. But he hit a perfect shot that finished just 19 feet past the pin. He had one hand on the U.S. Open trophy. But Zalatoris had one last chance. He responded with a shot that was two feet closer than Fitzpatrick’s. If Matt missed his putt, Will had one last gasp.
Fitpatrick narrowly missed but had an easy tap-in, leaving Zalatoris to determine the outcome. Considering the putter is Zalatoris’ weakest club, well, he made a valiant effort but that’s all it was. The tying putt barely missed and once again Zalatoris came up just short in a major championship.
As for Fitzpatrick, he was the first player since Jack Nicklaus to win the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Open at the same venue.
“No words,” Fitzpatrick said at first, collecting his thoughts after hoisting the trophy after a closing 68 and a six-under total. “It’s what you grow up dreaming of — big monkey on my back to win one here (in the U.S.). I had so much patience today. I told Billie (caddie Billy Foster) if I hit 18 greens today, I’d like my chances.” He nearly did that, finding the putting surface on 17 of the 18. The only miss came at 10 when he made bogey.
As for that final clutch approach from the left fairway bunker at 18 — “One of the best shots I’ve hit of all time,” Fitzpatrick said, smiling.
He had a lot to smile about. He held the overnight lead with Zalatoris but there were huge names right there in pursuit.
Scheffler gave it the best run. World No. 2 Jon Rahm never got things going the way he wanted. Rahm closed with a 74 and after starting just a shot behind the co-leaders, he fell all the way into a tie for 12th after shooting 74.
Rory McIlroy couldn’t muster much of a charge and he can look to his putter to see what cost him. Rory’s 69 left him tied for fifth with 36-hole leader Collin Morikawa, who closed with 66 to finish at two-under with McIlroy. Hideki Matsuyama shot the week’s best round — a five-under par 65 that put in solo fourth.
Scheffler and Zalatoris were the disappointed second-place finishers at five-under.
This one belonged to Fitzpatrick, who made sure he stayed with the same family who took him in back in 2013 during his U.S. Amateur win.
Oh yes, there was also one last piece of business.
“I won the member-member at the Bears Club (in Jupiter) this year and Jack congratulated me, said ‘you finally won in the states’ — well, if Jack’s watching, I have my second,” Fitzpatrick said with a wry grin.
This one will go down as a classic. A classic major at a classic, historic venue and for Matt Fitzpatrick, the 2013 U.S. Amateur champ at The Country Club — well — it was deja-vu all over again.
10 Comments
baxter cepeda
So I didn’t officially pick him but did ask you how cool it would be if Fitzpatrick pulled the usga double at the country club; looking not much older than Ouimet and himself when he won the Am all those years ago.
Let’s just say I definitely really liked his chances. I just got kinda Homery with max Homa.
I did fully declare Fitz my pick prior to Sunday.
I just absolutely love his Sergio like swing, especially now with its added pop texting par 5s and 4s…but what I am really a sucker for is a sweet and confident putting stroke, and this guy has that almost to a fault sometimes.
Confident putting almost cost Matt this win, making a couple aggressive 3 putts, but even when he fell 2 down Sunday it truly felt (to me) like he was going to win.
Gotta talk about Zalatoris. His stroke looks as amazing as a mallet, kuchar style can look outside of 15 feet. But inside, it’s still an issue. He missed a few Sunday with the hitch and go, and the way he takes it way inside. And the way none of the ball contacts inside the black area in the center of his putter, much less the actual center of the putter. Fitzpatrick may have had to overcome fairway bunker woes but those don’t come up almost every hole like putting inside 10 feet. As i said the last time Z narrowly lost, if this guy had a proper stroke inside 10 feet, he could be an all time legend. Figure it out bro! We see he is making the effort, but it’s time to make the actual change. He has already done it on longer putts, now he just has to stay disciplined on the short ones. He seems extremely disciplined. This should not be an issue.
A guy with no issues is the worlds number one. He didn’t win but he Further established himself as the worlds undisputed best golfer right now.
Rahm is close but The putter is still the only issue. He was missing makeable putts by multiple cups. I personally see some set up issues with his putter, the ball too far back.
A guy with a lot of issues is Rory. His game has fewer issues than its had in a long time. But Rory is involved in too many issues. He is so talented but I can’t help but notice the guys whom beat him have been a lot more focused on themselves lately.
If you want to win, you gotta focus on yourself.
Speaking of winning Usga stuff my youngest won the qualifier for the girls us am Saturday at Hualalai with 2 under. And her big sis after a 2 over in regulation went to a six hole 3 for 1 sudden death playoff and made a 45 foot birdie on the famous 17th to win shooting 2 under in the playoff; although that putt has been getting longer by the min;) This accomplishment has sparked some more interest from colleges and even a company offering us the exact balls we use through some junior program. I’m hoping they can hook us up with some clubs so I can get my old 913 fairway woods back to myself. Aloha
From Tinseltown Tom.
I will say I still have strong resignations to not allowing parent caddies for this great junior event. We cannot tell you how unfair that is. They allow caddies to use carts but then some girls without a caddie are left walking. We bugged other caddies to help them at times. It’s a mess. How about this Whan: make some clear rules and consequences and stop discrimination against the people who foot the hills for these kids to play your events.
Also, saying that you are listening to fans is cool. We get it, Whan is a PR genius, but people should t have to tell you your golf tournament is showing too much stuff that is not the golf tournament. LIv for all the things to knock on, gives viewers what they want to see: GOLF. Not to mention they give golfers more than double what majors give. But we will take that up again soon.
One more note the country club was amazing. Let’s hope it’s not 3 decades before the usga returning to the home of the man who put the US Open on the map. A place many like myself consider the home of US golf. The name says it all: The Country Club.
baxter cepeda
* Qualified for the girls Junior Amateur. Not the amateur. Which actually our US Amateur qualifier now conflicts with the Girls junior amateur championship. Another thing to take up with the great Whan.
Tom Edrington
Baxter, you remind me of my late mother — when I’d ask her who would win a certain huge basketball game, she wouldn’t say — wishy washy — then when one team prevailed, she’d proudly announce: “I thought they would win!”
Glad to see you thought Matt would win…..we have a nice followup on him, he’s obsessive about his game, shames Bryson DeChambeau, when you look at his work ethic, he’s going to be around for a long time….
baxter cepeda
Hey I acknowledged he wasn’t my pre tournament pick. But Sunday was very much up for grabs still and all the folks I talked to mentioned everyone else but him. I was all Fitz Sunday morning.
Tom Edrington
Yup, you and my Mom — “I thought he would win” as Fitz hoists the trophy!
baxter cepeda
So U still think your tour boo Monahan got it all under control ?
Tom Edrington
No way to “control” individuals like Brooks Koepka, he’s the MASTER hypocrite and we’ll address that with the next feature.
JimmyD5cc
Fitz was rock solid down the stretch and he deserves his win! Will Z has been so close, I hope he wins one soon,
Tom Edrington
You may or may not have noticed, that every time I list Will as one of the pre-tournament favorites I write the words: “If only he could putt” Truth of the sad matter is that if he was an average putter, he’d probably have at least five wins by now including two if not three majors. If he can finish second at St. Andrews next month — he can achieve the career “Grand Slam Runnerup” feat.
baxter cepeda
That would be incredible