A Thrilling Playoff at the RBC Heritage
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Matt Fitzpatrick of England delivered another remarkable shot in a playoff at Harbour Town on Sunday, silencing the pro-American crowd and defeating the world’s best player, Scottie Scheffler. Fitzpatrick hit a 4-iron to 13 feet for birdie, securing his second title in the RBC Heritage.
Scheffler, trailing by three shots with four holes to play, forced a playoff with a pair of late birdies for a 4-under 67. He received some assistance from Fitzpatrick, who hit a poor chip from right of the green and missed a 20-foot par putt, resulting in his only bogey of the day and a 70.
The large gallery that was allowed to come onto the fairway short of the 18th green in regulation filled the Calibogue Sound with endless chants of “U-S-A!” They returned outside the ropes to witness Fitzpatrick hit a 4-iron into a stiff breeze to a pin just over the bunker.
Scheffler followed with his worst swing of the day, a 6-iron he fanned so badly that it came up 37 yards short of the hole. He hit a superb pitch to 8 feet, but never had to putt when Fitzpatrick made the winning putt.
“A lot of grit,” Fitzpatrick said of holding on for the win. His reaction was muted, lightly touching his finger to his right ear in a friendly response to the crowd. Fitzpatrick knew what he was up against, having gone through a similar atmosphere when Cameron Young beat him at The Players Championship.
The playoff was almost a repeat from when Fitzpatrick defeated another American favorite, Jordan Spieth, in a playoff at the RBC Heritage three years ago. That time, he hit a 9-iron with the wind at his back that rolled out to a few inches for the winning birdie.
Fitzpatrick’s family used to take holidays to Hilton Head when he was a boy, for the golf and tennis and beaches. He came to the tournament and thought it would be cool to win it one day, and now he’s done it twice.
“It means the world,” he said. “This is a tournament I wanted to win growing up more than any of the majors before I understood more about the game. To go toe-to-toe with Scottie and get it over the line is special.”
It was great theater, but only at the end.
Fitzpatrick started with a three-shot lead and birdied two of the opening three holes, never letting anyone closer than three shots all round until Si Woo Kim birdied the par-5 15th to get within two shots, and then Scheffler came on late with an up-and-down for birdie on the 15th, and a bold drive and approach to 10 feet for birdie at the 16th.
That cut the lead to one shot, and both players missed the 18th green well to the right. Scheffler capped off a perfect day of scrambling — 8 for 8 — with a chip that settled a foot from the hole. Fitzpatrick faced his first chip into the grain and came up well short.
They finished at 18-under 268.
It was the second straight runner-up finish for Scheffler, who came from 12 shots behind going into the weekend to finish one back of Rory McIlroy at the Masters.
Fitzpatrick won for the second time in the last month. After his runner-up finish at The Players, he won the Valspar Championship on the tough Innisbrook track.
The victory, his fourth on the PGA Tour and 13th worldwide, moves him to a career-high No. 3 in the world ranking.
Kim closed with a 68 to finish alone in third, his fourth top 10 of the year.
Key Moments of the Tournament
- Fitzpatrick’s Winning Shot: Fitzpatrick hit a 4-iron to 13 feet for birdie, securing his second title in the RBC Heritage.
- Scheffler’s Late Comeback: Scheffler forced a playoff with a pair of late birdies, finishing with a 4-under 67.
- Chants of “U-S-A!”: The large gallery filled the Calibogue Sound with endless chants of “U-S-A!” during the final holes.
- Fitzpatrick’s Muted Reaction: Fitzpatrick responded to the crowd with a light touch to his right ear, showing his focus and composure.
- Historical Context: This win was reminiscent of his previous playoff victory over Jordan Spieth at the RBC Heritage three years ago.
- Family Connection: Fitzpatrick’s family used to visit Hilton Head for golf, tennis, and beaches, making this win even more meaningful.
- Career Milestone: This victory marks Fitzpatrick’s fourth on the PGA Tour and 13th worldwide, moving him to a career-high No. 3 in the world ranking.
- Si Woo Kim’s Performance: Kim closed with a 68 to finish alone in third, marking his fourth top 10 of the year.
Final Thoughts
The RBC Heritage provided thrilling moments and showcased the talent of both Fitzpatrick and Scheffler. The intense competition and dramatic finish highlighted the high level of play in professional golf. As the season progresses, fans can expect more exciting matches and memorable performances from the world’s best players.
