Matt Fitzpatrick beat Jordan Spieth in a play-off to win only the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head in South Carolina.
The lead swapped between overnight leader Fitzpatrick and defending champion Spieth throughout Sunday’s final round, while their playing partner Patrick Cantlay gradually fell out of contention and eventually finished third.
But for the second year in a row, the tournament went to a play-off with the leading duo finishing tied on 17 under par. And there was nothing to separate them over the first two extra holes either, although Spieth had birdie putts to win the first two holes, the 18th and then at the par-three 17th, and both missed by the slimmest of margins.
But a superb shot from the fairway to inches from the pin on the 18th, the third extra hole, saw the Sheffield star seize the advantage and with Spieth missing a 40-foot putt, Fitzpatrick stepped up to sink his for birdie and add to the US Open title he won last year.
Fitzpatrick later revealed that success here meant a lot to him personally, as he and his family had been visiting Hilton Head Island on holiday for over 20 years, and he had always dreamed of one day winning the tournament that is hosted here.
“Of all the tournaments on the PGA Tour calendar, this is the one I wanted to win the most,” he said. “Every year I’ve driven down the drive and you see the winners here and I’ve always thought ‘I want to be one of those’ – and here I am. I feel so far I’ve been very lucky in my career – I’ve won a major and now this.”
Victory earned Fitzpatrick a first prize of $3.6m, as the tournament is one of the PGA Tour 12 new elevated events, and took Fitzpatrick from 16th up to eighth in the world ranking – his highest ever position.
For the final leaderboard, click here.
Matt Fitzpatrick’s winning gear
Driver: Titleist TSi3 (9°)
Fairway woods: Ping G430 MAX 3 (15°), Ping G410 7 (20.5°)
Irons: Ping i210 (4), Ping S55 (5-PW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (52°, 56°), Vokey Design Wedge Works (60°)
Putter: Bettinardi BB1 Fitz
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x