For Matt Fitzpatrick, déjà vu never felt so good. Fitzpatrick won the 2013 U.S. Amateur at The Country Club in 2013. History repeated itself at the 2022 U.S. Open.
Fitzpatrick dueled with Will Zalatoris and Masters champion Scottie Scheffler throughout Sunday’s final round and had a one-stroke lead over both on the final hole. Much like Mito Pereira on the 18th hole of the PGA Championship, Fitzpatrick hit a terrible drive. But Fitzpatrick recovered brilliantly and found the green from the fairway bunker.
How do you define clutch?@MattFitz94 hit this shot on 18 to help secure the #USOpen title. pic.twitter.com/iQcOGxph0Z
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) June 19, 2022
Fitzpatrick missed his birdie putt but made par, which eliminated Scheffler, who was already finished. But Zalatoris was left with a makeable birdie putt to force a playoff. Zalatoris gave himself a chance on the putt but it ultimately missed just left off the hole. With that, Fitzpatrick was the U.S. Open champion.
The moment @MattFitz94 became a major champion! #USOpen pic.twitter.com/YveBUjjfL4
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 19, 2022
The win was historic for Fitzpatrick. He became only the 13th player to win both the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open. Of those 13, only Fitzpatrick and Jack Nicklaus won both at the same venue.
Matt Fitzpatrick wins the U.S. Open at The Country Club nine years after winning the U.S. Amateur… at The Country Club.
He joins Jack Nicklaus as the only players to win the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open at the same venue. Jack did it at Pebble Beach in 1961 and 1972. pic.twitter.com/FVO0M1bByC
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 19, 2022
Fitzpatrick joined an even more exclusive club, as the only non-American to win both the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open.
Matt Fitzpatrick is the first player ever from outside the United States to win the @usopengolf and U.S. Amateur in his career.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) June 19, 2022
Fitzpatrick and Zalatoris fought off a hot start from Scheffler and went to the 15th hole tied for the lead. Both missed the fairway and ironically enough, Fitzpatrick benefited from hitting a worse shot. While Zalatoris’ shot found the deep rough, Fitzpatrick’s miss was wide enough that he landed in grass that had been trampled down by spectators.
He took full advantage, hitting the green and making birdie while Zalatoris made bogey. Zalatoris did pick up one shot with a birdie on the next hole but Fitzpatrick held on from there.
Golf fans congratulated the new U.S. Open champion following his hard-fought triumph.
That fairway bunker shot by Matt Fitzpatrick — holy #USOpen champion
— Brian Murphy (@knbrmurph) June 19, 2022
THEY CAME. THEY SAW. THE BLADESMAN CONQUERED ⚔️
Matt Fitzpatrick – 2022 US Open Champion 🏆⛳️
Unbelievable achievement, @MattFitz94 👏👏👏#USOPEN pic.twitter.com/R70ZluoeWw
— Blades Mad (@Blades_Mad) June 19, 2022
It’s over: Matt Fitzpatrick is the 122nd U.S. Open champion. What a battle on the back-nine. Well deserved. Having a great year and now a major winner.
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelTAN) June 19, 2022
What a golf story. Matt Fitzpatrick joins only Jack Nicklaus as a winner of both the US Amateur and US Open at the same golf course. It’s the Englishman’s first professional win in the U.S to sit alongside his seven wins in Europe. This day has been coming. Never afraid to win.
— Adam White (@White_Adam) June 19, 2022
Superb from Matt Fitzpatrick. Delighted for Billy Foster as well. Seve, Bjorn, Westwood among many others. Finally gets the major win.
— Andrew Cotter (@MrAndrewCotter) June 19, 2022
Incredible from Matt Fitzpatrick from the bunker at 18 to win his first major.
Wasn’t long ago that many were discussing the need for equipment/ball restrictions to control the big hitting muscle men.
And yet a 70 odd kilo, 5-10, meticulous, hard worker prevails. #USOpen2022
— Daniel Garb (@DanielGarb) June 19, 2022
You just know Matt Fitzpatrick works incredibly hard. He has just consistently improved. Work ethic is the secret sauce! #USOpen2022
— John Duggan (@JohnDugganSport) June 19, 2022
Given that the previous three U.S. Opens at the Country Club ended in a playoff and this one narrowly missed, we certainly wouldn’t mind seeing Brookline in the U.S. Open rotation more. Fitzpatrick would likely get behind that idea.
