Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick has survived an exciting final in Brookline to claim the U.S. Open title, nine years after winning the amateur crown.
He had to wait until the last putt of the week to confirm his victory: Will Zalatoris came within inches of forcing a play-off while his chance to birdie at 18 was deflected.
Both Fitzpatrick and Zalatoris had birdie chances at 17, the former with a chance to secure the title after the latter’s effort was just inches from the hole.
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But he followed suit, and they both drew on – leaving the Englishman with a one-shot lead as they walked into the final hole at -6 and -5 respectively, with Scottie Scheffler waiting at the clubhouse tied. with Zalatoris.
Will Zalatoris falls to his knees after a last hole putt that has ended up outside. (FOX Sports)
Things went awry for Fitzpatrick after his starting throw found a bunker to the left of the fairway, after Zalatoris had punched his right through the middle.
“What a mistake, what a big mistake: you have miles on the right,” Paul Azinger said in a comment.
“You can hit him in the corporate stores and get a free drop. Now he’s at the mercy of the lie and whether or not he can get it over that lip.
“That’s a big mistake there, one of the only mistakes he’s made. I think it’s a bad decision, a bad club. In my opinion he should have hit an iron or a pilot.”
Matt Fitzpatrick reacts after being confirmed as the winner of the US Open. (Getty)
But a glorious recovery shot managed to find the green and establish a long putt of birds, with Zalatoris a few meters away.
After four rounds of golf, it all came down to a couple of putts in hole 72. Fitzpatrick pushed his head to the left, touching the pair.
He is another agonizing runner-up for Zalatoris, who has now finished second to the top three Americans.
“And once again, Zalatoris is just done,” Dan Hicks told the show.
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