Matt Fitzpatrick secured a dramatic playoff victory over Scottie Scheffler at the RBC Heritage, earning his second PGA Tour win of the season. Fitzpatrick overcame a late stumble in the final round before delivering a clutch performance on the first extra hole to seal the win.
The English golfer also drew attention for comments he made about the crowd after the match, following heavy support for Scheffler during the playoff.
Matt Fitzpatrick Uses Rory McIlroy Inspiration to Win RBC Heritage
Fitzpatrick entered the final round at Harbour Town Golf Links with a three-shot lead and briefly extended it to four. However, a late bogey on the final hole dropped him into a tie with Scheffler at 18 under, forcing a playoff.
On the first extra hole, Fitzpatrick responded with a precise approach shot that landed within 12 feet of the pin. He then made the birdie putt to secure his fourth career PGA Tour victory.
After the round, Fitzpatrick said his caddie, Daniel Parratt, used a familiar phrase to help him stay focused.
“He actually said getting to the tee, ‘we’d have taken this start of the week,’” Fitzpatrick explained, via Sky Sports. “I know Rory said that the other week. I jokingly said to Dan, I was like, ‘oh okay, here he is, Harry Diamond here’. Yeah, we had a good laugh about that.”
The comment referenced Rory McIlroy and his caddie, Harry Diamond, who used similar words during McIlroy’s 2025 Masters victory.
Fitzpatrick added, “I felt like I was in a good spot, and to hit the four-iron that I hit there was out of this world.”
Reflecting on the round, Fitzpatrick emphasized his resilience.
“Just a lot of grit,” he said. “I felt like I obviously got off to a great start. Had a poor three-putt on two and you feel like almost what could have been, but I would have taken it before I teed off.”
He continued, “I knew Scottie was going to make some birdies down the stretch and I kind of had to hang in there a little bit.”
Scottie Scheffler Pushes Late Charge but Falls Short
Scheffler made a strong push on Sunday with a bogey-free 67, including four birdies, to force the playoff. It marked his second consecutive runner-up finish on the PGA Tour after also contending at the Masters.
“I did some solid stuff,” Scheffler said in his post-tournament interview with PGA.com. “I think I had only one bogey over the weekend here, so I did a lot of really good things. Would have liked to have seen a few more putts go in, but overall, I executed the way I wanted to.”
He added, “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.”
Matt Fitzpatrick Reacts to Crowd Support for Scheffler
During the playoff, fans largely supported Scheffler, even chanting in his favor. Fitzpatrick addressed the atmosphere after his win, offering a lighthearted response.
“No. Americans are incredibly patriotic, and I think that was amazing,” Fitzpatrick said. “I guess the only issue is they just have shorter memories because we won in October.”
Despite the comment, Fitzpatrick said the crowd’s energy motivated him.
“I’m all for it. I love the people. They’re supporting Scottie; that’s great. You want golf to have an atmosphere, in my opinion,” he said. “However, there’s no better feeling than coming out on top against that. There isn’t a better feeling.”
Scheffler also praised the fans, noting, “It’s nice always to get some support from the crowd. I thought they were pretty cordial in terms of cheering for me and not cheering against Fitzy, so I was definitely appreciative of that.”
The PGA Tour now moves to the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, where Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin return as defending champions.
Matt Fitzpatrick Channels Rory McIlroy Mindset to Win RBC Heritage