Matt Fitzpatrick clinched the RBC Heritage title in a dramatic playoff against world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. After a missed opportunity for par and victory on the 18th hole in regulation, Fitzpatrick delivered one of the finest shots of his career on the same hole during the playoff.
Facing a 204-yard approach on the first playoff hole, Fitzpatrick’s 4-iron landed just 13 feet, 4 inches from the flagstick. Scheffler, whose own approach fell significantly short, pitched to within 8½ feet. Fitzpatrick then sank a decisive birdie putt, breaking from left to right, to defeat Scheffler and claim the RBC Heritage championship.
“To hit the 4-iron that I hit there was out of this world,” said Fitzpatrick, who also won the tournament in a playoff in 2023. “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 Fitzpatrick’s fourth career PGA Tour victory and his second of the current season, following his win at the Valspar Championship and a runner-up finish at The Players Championship. The Englishman expressed strong confidence in his game, noting his ball striking and acknowledging areas for continued improvement.
Fitzpatrick posted rounds of 65-63-68-70 for a 18-under-par total at Harbour Town Golf Links. Scheffler, who trailed by seven shots after two rounds, mounted a strong weekend charge with scores of 64-67. This was his second consecutive runner-up finish, having narrowly lost the Masters the previous week.
“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 commented. “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 held a three-shot lead heading into the final round. He birdied two of the first three holes, followed by 14 consecutive pars, before a bogey on the 18th. Scheffler, his playing partner, made birdies on holes 15 and 16 to narrow the gap to one shot.
In regulation, both players missed the 18th green. Scheffler saved par with an impressive chip from 70 feet, while Fitzpatrick’s chip from 69 feet landed 22 feet short, leading to a missed par putt that would have secured the win. Fitzpatrick’s clutch 4-iron in the playoff ultimately decided the outcome, preventing Scheffler from claiming his second RBC Heritage title.
“I knew Scottie was going to make some birdies down the stretch,” Fitzpatrick admitted, “and I kind of had to hang in there a little bit.”
In other results, Si Woo Kim finished in third place, two strokes behind, after a final-round 68. Collin Morikawa, Harris English, and Ludvig Åberg tied for fourth at 13-under par.
Fitzpatrick is now looking forward to partnering with his brother, Alex, at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, where both have achieved victories this season.
