Matt Fitzpatrick secured a gritty playoff victory at Harbour Town, but the real story was the mutual respect shared between two of golf's biggest stars.

Fitzpatrick found himself in a sudden-death playoff with Scottie Scheffler, the world's top-ranked player.

Commenting on what he thought about playing against the world's best golfer, Matt stated, "I knew Scottie was going to come back. He's World No. 1 for a reason."

He said this after an intense competition in which his three-stroke advantage vanished as Scottie mounted a strong comeback.

After 72 holes of regulation, both Fitzpatrick and Scottie were tied at 18-under-par, with a combined total of 266 shots, forcing them into a playoff.

Although there were moments where he felt the pressure, Fitzpatrick maintained his composure and noted that playing with the world number one for three rounds was not intimidating to him.

Overcoming the World’s Best Under Pressure

Nonetheless, this victory marks the second time Fitzpatrick has conquered a golfing giant in a playoff at the RBC Heritage, having beaten Jordan Spieth earlier in 2023.

When asked about the caliber of opponents he faces in these moments, Fitzpatrick continued to highlight the difficulty of defeating top players. "It feels as good as anything. I've won twice. There's no preference," he said.

This win continues the Fitzpatrick family tradition, as they have been coming to Hilton Head Island to spend their vacation long before Matt became a pro.

He shared the emotional moment with his wife and parents after holding off Scheffler's charge. He remarked, "It's a rare thing. It's a rare thing to win with close family around. I don't take it for granted."

His success is the result of a significant swing modification with coach Mark Blackburn, namely retracting his arm during his swings. As a result, he was able to hit an outstanding 4-iron in the playoff round against the World No. 1.

Although it may seem that his recent top performances make him the best player right now, Fitzpatrick dismissed the idea, insisting he still has room to improve his game. According to him, only Scheffler truly understands how it feels to be the best out there.

Fitzpatrick is set to compete at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans along with his brother Alex, while Scheffler is currently not listed in the field, indicating a probable post-major break.

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Written by

Abhishek Sharma

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav