HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA | Winning the U.S. Open is one thing.
But when you are Matt Fitzpatrick, whose English family began vacationing at this island escape when he was 6 years old, winning the RBC Heritage feels almost as special.
“I think I can retire now. This one is the one that I've always wanted to win,” Fitzpatrick said after beating Jordan Spieth on the third extra hole by hitting his 9-iron approach shot 1 foot from the hole on the par-4 18th at Harbour Town for the winning birdie.
“Any golf tournament – other than the majors, of course – there isn't a higher one on my list than to win this one, and that's the truth. My family can tell you that, and my friends can tell you the same thing. This place is just a special place for me, and it means the world to have won it.”
Fitzpatrick started the final round one stroke ahead of Patrick Cantlay and two clear of Spieth but found himself chasing near the end. He pulled even with Spieth via a birdie at the par-4 16th hole then closed out Spieth when the defending champion couldn’t close out Fitzpatrick. They were tied at 17-under 267.
It appeared as if Spieth would win on the first extra hole when he was leaning into his 13-foot birdie putt that caught the lip and stayed out, giving Fitzpatrick another chance. Two holes later, he seized it with a 9-iron shot that will live in his memory – and Heritage history – for years.
“The putt (Spieth) hit in the first playoff obviously had a very, very good look, and then same with the second hole, and then obviously the third (extra hole) it was a perfect number for us, and I just hit a great shot,” Fitzpatrick said.
“To finish where it did obviously made it a little bit easier. I felt like the shot that I hit was right down it from the moment it left the club face. We knew it was the perfect number for the club. Then I knew it was good because my mom and my girlfriend were jumping up and down with their arms in the air. I knew it must have been decent.”
“I think I can retire now … this place is just a special place to me.”
MATT FITZPATRICK
With his second PGA Tour victory, Fitzpatrick, 28, moved up eight spots in the Official World Golf Ranking, to a career-high No. 8.
Wearing his new plaid jacket, Fitzpatrick reminisced about watching the RBC Heritage from outside the gallery ropes.
“I always remember coming here and saying to my dad, ‘Is Tiger going to be in it here?’ and my dad is like, ‘No, Tiger is not playing this week.’ I seem to remember that happening a lot,” Fitzpatrick said.
“(Whenever) I came here, I was always looking for Tiger. I remember a few guys when I came here as a kid that I ended up seeing out there, but to me, just winning this tournament because of the history that me and my family have here is what means the world to me. That's why this is so special.
“I think I can retire now…this place is just a special place to me.”
Ron Green Jr.